DPR Initiates Study to Assess Long-term Funding Structures for the Department and Support the Transition to More Sustainable Pest Management
Julie Henderson
Director
Gavin Newsom
Governor
Jared Blumenfeld
Secretary for Environmental Protection
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) today announced a new contract to help identify potential paths for California to maintain its comprehensive pest management program and accelerate a transition to safer, more sustainable pest management. The mill assessment study aims to identify the appropriate structure, sources, and levels of funding that will allow the department to continue to fulfill its mission of protecting public health and the environment long-term.
Through funding allocated to the department in the 2021-2022 state budget to conduct a study on the current mill assessment, DPR is contracting with Sacramento-based company Crowe LLC to examine its current and future funding structure and make recommendations. The mill assessment is a $0.021 fee charged on each dollar of pesticide sales within the state and is a major source of revenue to sustain DPR’s operations. Mill revenues fund DPR’s health and safety evaluation programs, pesticide enforcement, environmental monitoring and Integrated Pest Management outreach and education programs.
A critical piece of the study’s implementation will be to incorporate engagement and input from a wide range of stakeholders on the current and future structure of the mill assessment. The study will also examine current and future funding needs of County Agricultural Commissioners in their efforts to ensure compliance with pesticide laws and regulations across the state. Study outcomes will provide a roadmap for adoption of a future funding structure and rate of the mill assessment in 2023.
More information on the mill fee or a new website page with information on the mill assessment study available on DPR’s website.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to monitor and manage the sale and use of pesticides across the state. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting scientific evaluation of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agriculture Commissioners and their 400 field inspectors. DPR also conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information. DPR invests in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices. More information about DPR can be found on its website.
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