Subd. 1. Education and training.

1. (a) The commissioner shall develop, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, innovative educational and training programs addressing pesticide concerns including:

   1. (1) water quality protection;
   2. (2) endangered species;
   3. (3) pesticide residues in food and water;
   4. (4) worker protection;
   5. (5) chronic toxicity;
   6. (6) integrated pest management; and
   7. (7) pesticide disposal.
2. (b) The commissioner shall appoint educational planning committees which must include representatives of industry.
3. (c) Specific current regulatory concerns must be discussed and, if appropriate, incorporated into each training session.
4. (d) The commissioner may approve programs from private industry and nonprofit organizations that meet minimum requirements for education, training, and certification.

Subd. 2. Training manual and examination development.

The commissioner, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, shall continually revise and update pesticide applicator training manuals and examinations. The manuals and examinations must be written to meet or exceed the minimum standards required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and pertinent state specific information. Questions in the examinations must be determined by the responsible agencies. Manuals and examinations must include pesticide management practices that discuss prevention of pesticide occurrence in groundwaters of the state.

Subd. 3. Pesticide Applicator Education and Examination Review Board.

1. (a) The commissioner shall establish and chair a Pesticide Applicator Education and Examination Review Board. This board, consisting of 15 members, must meet at least once a year before the initiation of pesticide educational planning programs. The purpose of the board is to discuss topics of current concern that can be incorporated into pesticide applicator training sessions and appropriate examinations. This board shall review and evaluate the various educational programs recently conducted and recommend options to increase overall effectiveness.
2. (b) Membership on this board must include applicators representing various licensing categories, such as agriculture, turf and ornamental, aerial, aquatic, and structural pest control and private pesticide applicators, and other governmental agencies, including the University of Minnesota, the Pollution Control Agency, Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Transportation.
3. (c) Membership on the board must include representatives from environmental protection organizations.
4. (d) This board shall review licensing and certification requirements for private, commercial, and noncommercial applicators. This board shall review category requirements and provide recommendations to the commissioner. This board expires on June 30, 2003.