California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

AB 1689 — Pest control operations: aircraft operations: certificates.

Last action — In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to operate an unmanned aircraft system in pest control unless the pilot operating the unmanned aircraft system holds a valid manned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate or a valid unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate issued by the Director of Pesticide Regulation and is certified or otherwise authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate an unmanned aircraft system approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct pest control. This bill would require a pilot operating an unmanned aircraft system to hold a valid manned or unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate issued by the director, and to meet the requirements for a vector control technician certificate or an unmanned aircraft operator certificate, as specified. Existing law requires each unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate to designate the pilot's status as a journeyman, apprentice, or vector control technician, and requires an applicant for an unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate to pass an examination as a condition of licensure. This bill would, with respect to the unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate, eliminate the statuses of journeyman and apprentice, create the status of unmanned aircraft operator, and make conforming changes to the examination requirement. To be eligible for an unmanned aircraft operator certificate, the bill would require a pilot to hold required unmanned aircraft pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for both agricultural and commercial operations. Existing law governs pest control operations in this state in order to, among other stated purposes, protect public health and safety and protect the environment. Existing law establishes the Department of Pesticide Regulation within the California Environmental Protection Agency, under the control of the director, to administer these provisions. Existing law requires the director to adopt regulations that govern the conduct of the business of pest control. Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to act in a supervisory capacity or position for a pest control business unless the person has a qualified applicator license, except as provided. This bill would require a qualified applicator license for an unmanned pest control aircraft operation spraying a regulated pesticide, fungicide, or herbicide. The bill would require an unmanned pest control aircraft operation spraying a regulated pesticide, fungicide, or herbicide under a qualified applicator license to comply with specified requirements. The bill would require the application of a pesticide, fungicide, or herbicide by an unmanned pest control aircraft to be made according to the label instructions and would require labeling instructions issued by the department to be in compliance with any federal labeling issued pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to act as a pest control aircraft pilot in any county without first registering with the appropriate county agricultural commissioner. Under existing law, it is unlawful to use any fraud or misrepresentation in connection with meeting any license requirement relating to pest control operations. A violation of this provision is a crime. To the extent the bill would expand the scope of existing crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  2. In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

  3. Re-referred to Com. on AGRI.

  4. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on AGRI. Read second time and amended.

  5. Referred to Coms. on AGRI. and P. & C.P.

  6. From printer. May be heard in committee February 24.

  7. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety environment labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 1689 do?
Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to operate an unmanned aircraft system in pest control unless the pilot operating the unmanned aircraft system holds a valid manned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate or a valid unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate issued by the Director of Pesticide Regulation and is certified or otherwise authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate an unmanned aircraft system approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct pest control. This bill would require a pilot operating an unmanned aircraft system to hold a valid manned or unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate issued by the director, and to meet the requirements for a vector control technician certificate or an unmanned aircraft operator certificate, as specified. Existing law requires each unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate to designate the pilot's status as a journeyman, apprentice, or vector control technician, and requires an applicant for an unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate to pass an examination as a condition of licensure. This bill would, with respect to the unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate, eliminate the statuses of journeyman and apprentice, create the status of unmanned aircraft operator, and make conforming changes to the examination requirement. To be eligible for an unmanned aircraft operator certificate, the bill would require a pilot to hold required unmanned aircraft pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for both agricultural and commercial operations. Existing law governs pest control operations in this state in order to, among other stated purposes, protect public health and safety and protect the environment. Existing law establishes the Department of Pesticide Regulation within the California Environmental Protection Agency, under the control of the director, to administer these provisions. Existing law requires the director to adopt regulations that govern the conduct of the business of pest control. Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to act in a supervisory capacity or position for a pest control business unless the person has a qualified applicator license, except as provided. This bill would require a qualified applicator license for an unmanned pest control aircraft operation spraying a regulated pesticide, fungicide, or herbicide. The bill would require an unmanned pest control aircraft operation spraying a regulated pesticide, fungicide, or herbicide under a qualified applicator license to comply with specified requirements. The bill would require the application of a pesticide, fungicide, or herbicide by an unmanned pest control aircraft to be made according to the label instructions and would require labeling instructions issued by the department to be in compliance with any federal labeling issued pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to act as a pest control aircraft pilot in any county without first registering with the appropriate county agricultural commissioner. Under existing law, it is unlawful to use any fraud or misrepresentation in connection with meeting any license requirement relating to pest control operations. A violation of this provision is a crime. To the extent the bill would expand the scope of existing crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors AB 1689?
AB 1689 is sponsored by Fong, Mike (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 1689?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 1689?
Track AB 1689 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on AB 1689

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of AB 1689

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →