§ 23-25-13. Certification of commercial applicators — Renewal — Regulations.
(a) No commercial applicator shall purchase, acquire, possess, apply, or supervise the
application of any pesticide classified for use only by or under the direct supervision
of a certified applicator by EPA or by the director without first becoming certified
under this section and regulations adopted under this section, except that the pesticide
purchase, acquisition, possession, or application may be made without certification
if done under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.
(b) The director is authorized to adopt regulations, including but not limited to regulations:
(1) Establishing procedures for filing an application for certification and determining
prior experience and qualifications of applicants, their proposed operations, categories,
and subcategories, or special pesticide uses for which the applicant wishes to qualify
for certification, and setting annual expiration dates and type of documentation verifying
certification if qualified;
(2) Requiring written examinations and, as necessary, other types of examinations designed
to enable the applicant to demonstrate his or her knowledge, in accordance with the
standards established under § 23-25-10, of pesticides and their effects, and his or her competency to handle and use the
restricted use and/or limited use pesticides he or she may apply under the categories,
subcategories, or special uses for which he or she is being examined;
(3) Establishing an annual certification fee not to exceed forty-five dollars ($45.00)
and requiring certified commercial applicators to keep records of their purchase and
use of restricted use and/or limited use pesticides;
(4) Establishing limits of liability covering the applicant's spraying operations;
(5) Requiring the display of a decal, indicating that the applicant has met the requirements
of this chapter, in a prominent place on any vehicle used in the applicant's spraying
operations.
(c) If the director finds the applicant qualified to apply pesticides in the categories,
subcategories, or special uses he or she has applied for, the director shall issue
a certified commercial applicator's certificate limited to the categories for which
he or she is qualified which shall expire on an annual expiration date as determined
by regulation unless it has been revoked or suspended prior to the expiration by the
director for cause. The director may limit the certificate to the use of certain pesticides,
or to certain areas, or to certain types of equipment if the applicant is only so
qualified. If a certificate or renewal is not granted as applied for, the director
shall inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for not granting it and, if requested,
provide opportunity for a hearing before the director.
(d) The director shall send a renewal application to each certified commercial applicator
at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date, and the director may renew
any applicant's certification under the classification(s) for which the applicant
is certified subject to reexamination or other requirements imposed by the director
by regulation to ensure that the applicator continues to meet the requirements of
changing technology and to assure a continuing level of competence and ability to
use pesticides safely and properly.
(e) Certified commercial applicators who in any year fail to file a renewal application,
even though they did not receive a mailed renewal application, prior to an expiration
date established by regulation shall lose their certification as of sixty (60) days
later and prior to that date shall be notified in writing. Those applicators may regain
certification under this section by reexamination.
(f) Any commercial applicator certified under this section shall not be required to obtain
a commercial applicator's license under § 23-25-12 as long as his or her certification remains in effect.