HB3844 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10167 BDA 20239 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3844

Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

415 ILCS 60/4	from Ch. 5, par. 804
415 ILCS 60/12	from Ch. 5, par. 812
415 ILCS 60/14	from Ch. 5, par. 814

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Replaces the definition of the term "licensed operator" with definitions of the terms "licensed large-scale operator" and "licensed small-scale operator". Provides that the Director of Agriculture shall issue separate certification tests for licensed large-scale operators and licensed small-scale operators based on the rules and regulations prescribed for each by the Department of Agriculture. Makes conforming changes in the Act.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Pesticide Act is amended by changing Sections 4, 12, and 14 as follows:

(415 ILCS 60/4) (from Ch. 5, par. 804)

Sec. 4. Definitions. As used in this Act:

1. "Director" means Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture or his authorized representative.

2. "Active Ingredient" means any ingredient which will prevent, destroy, repel, control or mitigate a pest or which will act as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant.

3. "Adulterated" shall apply to any pesticide if the strength or purity is not within the standard of quality expressed on the labeling under which it is sold, distributed or used, including any substance which has been substituted wholly or in part for the pesticide as specified on the labeling under which it is sold, distributed or used, or if any valuable constituent of the pesticide has been wholly or in part abstracted.

4. "Agricultural Commodity" means produce of the land, including, but not limited to, plants and plant parts, livestock and poultry and livestock or poultry products, seeds, sod, shrubs and other products of agricultural origin including the premises necessary to and used directly in agricultural production. Agricultural commodity also includes aquatic products, including any aquatic plants and animals or their by-products that are produced, grown, managed, harvested and marketed on an annual, semi-annual, biennial or short-term basis, in permitted aquaculture facilities.

5. "Animal" means all vertebrate and invertebrate species including, but not limited to, man and other mammals, birds, fish, and shellfish.

5.5. "Barrier mosquitocide" means a pesticide that is formulated to kill adult mosquitoes and that is applied so as to leave a residual mosquitocidal coating on natural or manmade surfaces. "Barrier mosquitocide" does not include a product that is exempt from registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or rules adopted pursuant to that Act.

5.6. "Barrier mosquitocide treatment" means application of a barrier mosquitocide to a natural or manmade surface.

6. "Beneficial Insects" means those insects which during their life cycle are effective pollinators of plants, predators of pests or are otherwise beneficial.

7. "Certified applicator".

A. "Certified applicator" means any individual who is certified under this Act to purchase, use, or supervise the use of pesticides which are classified for restricted use.

B. "Private applicator" means a certified applicator who purchases, uses, or supervises the use of any pesticide classified for restricted use, for the purpose of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned, rented, or otherwise controlled by him or his employer, or applied to other property if done without compensation other than trading of personal services between no more than 2 producers of agricultural commodities.

C. "Licensed Commercial Applicator" means a certified applicator, whether or not he is a private applicator with respect to some uses, who owns or manages a business that is engaged in applying pesticides, whether classified for general or restricted use, for hire. The term also applies to a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of pesticides, whether classified for general or restricted use, for any purpose or on property of others excluding those specified by subparagraphs 7 (B), (D), (E) of Section 4 of this Act.

D. "Commercial Not For Hire Applicator" means a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of pesticides classified for general or restricted use for any purpose on property of an employer when such activity is a requirement of the terms of employment and such application of pesticides under this certification is limited to property under the control of the employer only and includes, but is not limited to, the use or supervision of the use of pesticides in a greenhouse setting. "Commercial Not For Hire Applicator" also includes a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of pesticides classified for general or restricted use as an employee of a state agency, municipality, or other duly constituted governmental agency or unit.

8. "Defoliant" means any substance or combination of substances which cause leaves or foliage to drop from a plant with or without causing abscission.

9. "Desiccant" means any substance or combination of substances intended for artificially accelerating the drying of plant tissue.

10. "Device" means any instrument or contrivance, other than a firearm or equipment for application of pesticides when sold separately from pesticides, which is intended for trapping, repelling, destroying, or mitigating any pest, other than bacteria, virus, or other microorganisms on or living in man or other living animals.

11. "Distribute" means offer or hold for sale, sell, barter, ship, deliver for shipment, receive and then deliver, or offer to deliver pesticides, within the State.

12. "Environment" includes water, air, land, and all plants and animals including man, living therein and the interrelationships which exist among these.

13. "Equipment" means any type of instruments and contrivances using motorized, mechanical or pressure power which is used to apply any pesticide, excluding pressurized hand-size household apparatus containing dilute ready to apply pesticide or used to apply household pesticides.

14. "FIFRA" means the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended.

15. "Fungi" means any non-chlorophyll bearing thallophytes, any non-chlorophyll bearing plant of a lower order than mosses or liverworts, as for example rust, smut, mildew, mold, yeast and bacteria, except those on or in living animals including man and those on or in processed foods, beverages or pharmaceuticals.

16. "Household Substance" means any pesticide customarily produced and distributed for use by individuals in or about the household.

17. "Imminent Hazard" means a situation which exists when continued use of a pesticide would likely result in unreasonable adverse effects on the environment or will involve unreasonable hazard to the survival of a species declared endangered by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior or to species declared to be protected by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

18. "Inert Ingredient" means an ingredient which is not an active ingredient.

19. "Ingredient Statement" means a statement of the name and percentage of each active ingredient together with the total percentage of inert ingredients in a pesticide and for pesticides containing arsenic in any form, the ingredient statement shall include percentage of total and water soluble arsenic, each calculated as elemental arsenic. In the case of spray adjuvants the ingredient statement need contain only the names of the functioning agents and the total percent of those constituents ineffective as spray adjuvants.

20. "Insect" means any of the numerous small invertebrate animals generally having the body more or less obviously segmented for the most part belonging to the class Insects, comprised of six-legged, usually winged forms, as for example beetles, caterpillars, and flies. This definition encompasses other allied classes of arthropods whose members are wingless and usually have more than 6 legs as for example spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes, and millipedes.

21. "Label" means the written, printed or graphic matter on or attached to the pesticide or device or any of its containers or wrappings.

22. "Labeling" means the label and all other written, printed or graphic matter: (a) on the pesticide or device or any of its containers or wrappings, (b) accompanying the pesticide or device or referring to it in any other media used to disseminate information to the public, (c) to which reference is made to the pesticide or device except when references are made to current official publications of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Departments of Agriculture, Health, Education and Welfare or other Federal Government institutions, the state experiment station or colleges of agriculture or other similar state institution authorized to conduct research in the field of pesticides.

23. "Land" means all land and water area including airspace, and all plants, animals, structures, buildings, contrivances, and machinery appurtenant thereto or situated thereon, fixed or mobile, including any used for transportation.

24. "Licensed large-scale operator Operator" means a person who is employed to apply pesticides to the lands of others under the direction of a "licensed commercial applicator" or a "licensed commercial not-for-hire applicator" and who applies pesticides with large-scale application equipment, such as boom sprayers or tractor-mounted spray equipment, or other large-scale application equipment as further prescribed by the Department of Agriculture by rule.

24.5. "Licensed small-scale operator" means a person who is employed to apply pesticides to the lands of others under the direction of a licensed commercial applicator or a licensed commercial not-for-hire applicator and who applies pesticides with equipment other than the large-scale application equipment used by licensed large-scale operators.

25. "Nematode" means invertebrate animals of the phylum nemathelminthes and class nematoda, also referred to as nemas or eelworms, which are unsegmented roundworms with elongated fusiform or sac-like bodies covered with cuticle and inhabiting soil, water, plants or plant parts.

26. "Permit" means a written statement issued by the Director or his authorized agent, authorizing certain acts of pesticide purchase or of pesticide use or application on an interim basis prior to normal certification, registration, or licensing.

27. "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, fiduciary, corporation, or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not.

28. "Pest" means (a) any insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed, or (b) any other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or virus, bacteria, or other microorganism, excluding virus, bacteria, or other microorganism on or in living animals including man, which the Director declares to be a pest.

29. "Pesticide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest or any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant.

30. "Pesticide Dealer" means any person who distributes registered pesticides to the user.

31. "Plant Regulator" means any substance or mixture of substances intended through physiological action to affect the rate of growth or maturation or otherwise alter the behavior of ornamental or crop plants or the produce thereof. This does not include substances which are not intended as plant nutrient trace elements, nutritional chemicals, plant or seed inoculants or soil conditioners or amendments.

32. "Protect Health and Environment" means to guard against any unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.

33. "Registrant" means a person who has registered any pesticide pursuant to the provision of FIFRA and this Act.

34. "Restricted Use Pesticide" means any pesticide with one or more of its uses classified as restricted by order of the Administrator of USEPA.

35. "SLN Registration" means registration of a pesticide for use under conditions of special local need as defined by FIFRA.

36. "State Restricted Pesticide Use" means any pesticide use which the Director determines, subsequent to public hearing, that an additional restriction for that use is needed to prevent unreasonable adverse effects.

37. "Structural Pest" means any pests which attack and destroy buildings and other structures or which attack clothing, stored food, commodities stored at food manufacturing and processing facilities or manufactured and processed goods.

38. "Unreasonable Adverse Effects on the Environment" means the unreasonable risk to the environment, including man, from the use of any pesticide, when taking into account accrued benefits of as well as the economic, social, and environmental costs of its use.

39. "USEPA" means United States Environmental Protection Agency.

40. "Use inconsistent with the label" means to use a pesticide in a manner not consistent with the label instruction, the definition adopted in FIFRA as interpreted by USEPA shall apply in Illinois.

41. "Weed" means any plant growing in a place where it is not wanted.

42. "Wildlife" means all living things, not human, domestic, or pests.

43. "Bulk pesticide" means any registered pesticide which is transported or held in an individual container in undivided quantities of greater than 55 U.S. gallons liquid measure or 100 pounds net dry weight.

44. "Bulk repackaging" means the transfer of a registered pesticide from one bulk container (containing undivided quantities of greater than 100 U.S. gallons liquid measure or 100 pounds net dry weight) to another bulk container (containing undivided quantities of greater than 100 U.S. gallons liquid measure or 100 pounds net dry weight) in an unaltered state in preparation for sale or distribution to another person.

45. "Business" means any individual, partnership, corporation or association engaged in a business operation for the purpose of selling or distributing pesticides or providing the service of application of pesticides in this State.

46. "Facility" means any building or structure and all real property contiguous thereto, including all equipment fixed thereon used for the operation of the business.

47. "Chemigation" means the application of a pesticide through the systems or equipment employed for the primary purpose of irrigation of land and crops.

48. "Use" means any activity covered by the pesticide label, including, but not limited to, application of pesticide, mixing and loading, storage of pesticides or pesticide containers, disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers and reentry into treated sites or areas.

(Source: P.A. 102-555, eff. 1-1-22; 102-916, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(415 ILCS 60/12) (from Ch. 5, par. 812)

Sec. 12. Licensed operator. No pesticide operator shall use any pesticides without a pesticide operator license issued by the Director.

1. Application for an operator license shall be made in writing on designated forms available from the Director. Each application shall contain information regarding the nature of applicants pesticide use, his qualifications, and such other facts as prescribed on the form. The application shall also include the following:

A. The full name of applicant.

B. The address of the applicant.

C. The name of and license/certification number of the pesticide applicator under whom the applicant will work.

2. The Director shall not issue a pesticide operator license until the individual identified has demonstrated his competence and knowledge regarding pesticide use in accordance with Section 9 of this Act. The Director shall issue separate certification tests for both licensed large-scale operators and licensed small-scale operators based on the rules and regulations prescribed for each by the Department of Agriculture.

3. The Director shall not issue an operator license to any person who is unable to provide the name and license/certification number of an applicator under whom the operator will work.

4. For the years preceding the year 2001, a licensed commercial operator working for or under the supervision of a certified licensed commercial pesticide applicator shall pay an annual fee of $25. For the years 2001, 2002, and 2003, the annual fee for a commercial operator license is $30. For the years 2004, 2005, and 2006, the annual fee for a commercial operator license is $35. For the years 2007 through 2017, the annual fee for a commercial operator license is $40. For the years 2018 through 2023, the fee for a multi-year commercial operator license is $120. For the years 2024 and thereafter, the fee for a multi-year commercial operator license is $180. The late application fee for an operator license shall be $20 in addition to the normal license fee. A licensed operator shall be assessed a fee of $10 for a duplicate license.

5. For the years 2011 through 2017, the commercial not-for-hire pesticide operator license fee shall be $15. For the years 2018 through 2023, the fee for a multi-year commercial not-for-hire pesticide operator license is $45. For the years 2024 and thereafter, the fee for a multi-year commercial not-for-hire pesticide operator license is $90. The late application fee for a commercial not-for-hire operator license shall be $20 in addition to the normal license fee. A commercial not-for-hire operator shall be assessed a fee of $10 for a duplicate license.

(Source: P.A. 103-441, eff. 1-1-24.)

(415 ILCS 60/14) (from Ch. 5, par. 814)

Sec. 14. Unlawful acts.

1. The following are violations of this Act, if any person:

A. Made false or fraudulent claims through any media misrepresenting the effect of pesticides or methods.

B. Applied known ineffective or improper pesticides.

C. Applied pesticides in a faulty, careless, or negligent manner.

D. Used or made recommendation for use of a pesticide inconsistent with the labeling of the pesticide.

E. Neglected, or after notice in writing, refused, to comply with provisions of this Act, the regulations adopted hereunder, or of any lawful order of the Director, including the limitations specified in a duly issued permit, certification, or registration.

F. Failed to keep and maintain records required by this Act or failed to make reports when and as required or made false or fraudulent records or reports.

G. Used or supervised the use of a pesticide without qualifying as a certified applicator, licensed small-scale operator, or licensed large-scale operator.

H. Used fraud or misrepresentation in making application for, or renewal of, any license, permit, certification, or registration or in demonstration of competence.

I. Aided or abetted a person to evade provisions of this Act, conspired with any person to evade provisions of this Act or allowed a license, permit, certification or registration to be used by another person.

J. Impersonated any federal, state, county, or city official.

K. Purchased pesticides by using another person's license or using or purchasing pesticides outside of a specific category for which that person is licensed or any other misrepresentation.

L. Fails to comply with the rules and regulations adopted under the authority of this Act.

2. Except as provided in Section 14 (2G), it is unlawful for any person to distribute in the State the following:

A. A pesticide not registered pursuant to provisions of this Act.

B. Any pesticide, if any claim made for it, use recommendation, other labeling or formulation, differs from the representations made in connection with registration. However, a change in labeling or formulation may be made within a registration if the change does not violate provisions of FIFRA or this Act.

C. Any pesticide unless in the registrants unbroken container.

D. Any pesticide container to which all label information required under provisions of this Act has not been securely affixed.

E. Any pesticide which is adulterated or misbranded or any device which is misbranded.

F. Any pesticide in a container which, due to damage, is hazardous to handle and store.

G. It shall not be unlawful to distribute pesticides "in bulk" provided such distribution does not violate the provisions of this Act, the Rules and Regulations under this Act, or FIFRA.

3. It shall be unlawful:

A. To sell any pesticide labeled for restricted use to any applicator not certified, unless such applicator has a valid permit authorizing purchase under a special exemption from certification requirements.

B. To handle, store, display, use or distribute pesticides in such manner as to endanger man and his environment, to endanger food, feed or other products that may be stored, displayed or distributed with such pesticides.

C. To use, dispose of, discard, or store pesticides or their containers in such a manner as to endanger public health and the environment or to pollute water supplies.

D. To use for personal advantage, reveal to persons, other than the Director designee or properly designated official of other jurisdictions, or to a physician or other qualified person in cases of emergency for preparation of an antidote any information judged as relating to trade secrets. To use or reveal a financial information obtained by authority or marked as privileged or confidential by a registrant.

E. To sell any pesticide labeled for restricted use over an Internet website to an Illinois resident who is not a certified pesticide applicator as provided under Section 11 of this Act.

F. To apply a restricted use pesticide on or within 500 feet of school property during normal hours, except for whole structure fumigation. However, if the pesticide application information listed on the pesticide label is more restrictive than this paragraph (F), then the more restrictive provision shall apply. The Department of Agriculture shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this paragraph (F). As used in this paragraph (F), "normal school hours" means Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., excluding days when classes are not in session.

4. Exemptions from the violation provisions of this Act are as follows:

A. Carriers lawfully engaged in transporting pesticides within this State, provided that such carrier shall upon request permit the Director to copy all records showing transactions in the movement of the pesticide or device.

B. Public officials of this State or the federal government while engaged in the performance of official duties in administration of pesticide laws or regulations.

C. Persons who ship a substance or mixture of substances being tested for the purpose of determining its value for pesticide use, to determine its toxicity or other properties and from which such user does not derive any benefit in pest control from its use.

5. No pesticide or device shall be deemed in violation of this Act when intended solely for export to a foreign country. If it is not exported all the provisions of this Act shall apply.

(Source: P.A. 102-548, eff. 1-1-22.)