The Pesticide Drift Exposure Response Act -- SB391 (Florez)
The Pesticide Drift Exposure Response Act became law in 2005 after a
series of pesticide drift incidents that injured hundreds of residents
persuaded our leaders to take action. These drift incidents exposed
well over a thousand people to pesticides that have resulted in short
and long-term illnesses. Hundreds of thousands of people in California
live in areas where they are at risk of health effects from pesticide
drift.
The Pesticide Drift Exposure Response Act (SB391 – Florez) ensures
that the victims of pesticide drift incidents are properly responded to
and treated with respect. Many victims have been left with hundreds of
dollars worth of medical expenses that are never reimbursed or simply
not responded to. The Pesticide Drift Exposure Response Act’s aim is to
prevent the ill treatment of these victims and ensure immediate and
proper response to each incident.
The Pesticide Drift Exposure Response Act established a penalty
process for the medical expenses of persons who have been exposed to
pesticides in non-occupational drift incidents. The penalties and
settlements will be assessed to the responsible parties. In addition
this new law requires county and statewide agencies to work together to
include new pesticide drift response protocols in their emergency
response plans.
