Chapter 7. Structural Pest Control of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 7. >> Chapter 7.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that it is the joint responsibility of the Department of Food and Agriculture, the commissioner of each county under the direction and supervision of the director, and the Structural Pest Control Board to regulate the activities of structural pest control licensees. The Structural Pest Control Board has responsibility for licensing persons and companies engaged in structural pest control work. The department has primary responsibility for enforcing pesticide laws and regulations.

In addition to the enforcement authority granted to the director and commissioners by this code, a commissioner, when acting pursuant to Section 8616.4 of the Business and Professions Code, may suspend the right of a structural pest control licensee to make pesticide applications in the county for up to three working days or levy a fine upon a licensee or unlicensed individual acting as a licensee as specified in Section 8617 of the Business and Professions Code. Appeals from these actions shall be to the Disciplinary Review Committee according to the procedures provided in Section 8662 of the Business and Professions Code.

The director may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The director shall consult with the Structural Pest Control Board when developing regulations that pertain to the use of pesticides by structural pest control licensees.

(a) Each licensed Branch 2 and Branch 3 structural pest control operator qualifying manager, as defined in Section 8506.2 of the Business and Professions Code, and Structural Pest Control Board registered company, as defined in Section 8506.1 of the Business and Professions Code, shall register with the commissioner prior to operating a structural pest control business in the county. The registration shall cover a calendar year. A fee may also be required at the time of registration. The fee shall be set by the county board of supervisors, except that in no case shall the fee exceed the actual cost of processing the registration or ten dollars ($10), whichever is less. Payment of the fee shall be due by the date designated by the commissioner.
  (b) Each registration shall be in a form prescribed by the director after consulting with the Structural Pest Control Board and commissioners and shall include the structural pest control licensee' s name and address, including all satellite locations conducting business in the county, telephone numbers, responsible persons, and the type of pest control to be conducted.
  (c) If ordered by the commissioner, other structural pest control licensees shall appear in person at the office of the commissioner to complete registration.
  (d) The commissioner may levy a civil penalty against any person who violates the provisions of this section in accordance with the procedures provided in Section 12999.5.

(a) It is unlawful for any licensed Branch 1 Structural Pest Controller licensee, including structural pest control operators, field representatives, applicators, and Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) registered companies, as defined in Section 8506.1 of the Business and Professions Code, to conduct fumigations in any county unless that person or company has also registered for the current calendar year with the commissioner in that county. The registration fee for the SPCB registered company including structural pest control operators and field representatives and applicators shall be set by the county Board of Supervisors, but shall not exceed the cost of processing the registration or twenty-five dollars ($25), whichever is less. Payment of the fee shall be due at registration or on a date set by the commissioner. Structural pest control operators and field representatives may be added during the year, but the fee shall not exceed the actual cost of processing the registration or ten dollars ($10), whichever is less.
  (b) Each registration shall be in the form prescribed by the director after consulting with the SPCB and the commissioners and shall include the name and address of the SPCB registered company or structural pest control operator and all satellite offices conducting business in the county, the name of the qualifying manager or the structural pest control operator and his or her license number, and a business telephone number. The registration form for field representatives and applicators shall include their name, license number, business address, and telephone number, and may be included with the business registration.
  (c) Each licensed structural pest controller, including structural pest control operators, field representatives, applicators, or an SPCB registered company, that intends to conduct fumigation operations is required to appear in person at the office of the commissioner to complete the registration required by Section 15204.
  (d) Each SPCB registered company or structural pest control operator that intends to conduct fumigation operations shall notify the agricultural commissioner at least 24 hours prior to commencing fumigation, or as approved on a case-by-case basis by the commissioner. This notice shall include all of the following:
  (1) Name and address of the registered company or structural pest control operator.
  (2) Address of the area or areas to be fumigated.
  (3) The pesticide to be applied.
  (4) The date of the intended application.
  (e) The commissioner may levy a civil penalty against any person who violates the provisions of this section in accordance with the procedures provided in Section 12999.5.

A commissioner may require full payment of any delinquent fees due to the county pursuant to Section 8698.1 of the Business and Professions Code as a condition of registering a structural pest control licensee to operate a structural pest control business in that county pursuant to Sections 15204 and 15204.5.

(a) Each registered structural pest control company shall make all existing records pertaining to pesticide and device use available to the director, the Structural Pest Control Board, or commissioner upon demand at the headquarters of the business during normal business hours. A registered structural pest control company or licensee may not prohibit onsite inspection for compliance with the Business and Professions Code and this division regarding pesticides and structural pest control devices and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Except as provided in Section 8505.5 of the Business and Professions Code, nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a registered structural pest control company or licensee to provide advance notice of the date, time, location of the application, type of device or pesticide application, or any other related information unless the information is contained in existing records available to the registered company or licensee, in which case the director, the Structural Pest Control Board, or commissioner may require that this information be produced at the company's place of business.
  (b) Information and documents gathered by the director, the Structural Pest Control Board, or the commissioner pursuant to this section that are protected from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code) shall remain confidential while in the director's, the board's, or the commissioner's possession.
  (c) (1) "Device," for purposes of this section, means any method, instrument, or contrivance intended to be used to prevent, eliminate, destroy, repel, attract, or mitigate any wood destroying pest, but does not include firearms, pesticides as defined in Section 12753, or equipment used for the application of pesticides when sold separately from a pesticide.
  (2) "Wood destroying pest," for purposes of this section, includes, but is not limited to, insects such as wood borers and termites. "Wood destroying pest" does not include wood-decaying fungi, general household pests such as cockroaches, or vertebrate pests such as rats and mice.

If the director receives a notice pursuant to Section 8616.6 of the Business and Professions Code, he or she shall investigate the actions which caused the filing of the notice and take appropriate action as authorized in this code.

Regulations adopted pursuant to Section 11503 are not applicable to this chapter.

The director and the Structural Pest Control Board shall jointly develop and concur in the list of the types of violations that the commissioners shall refer to the board for disciplinary action.