(a)
Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), every pest abatement district employee who handles, applies, or supervises the use of any pesticide for public health purposes, shall be certified by the state department as a vector control technician in at least one of the following categories commensurate with assigned duties:
(1)
Mosquito control.
(2)
Terrestrial invertebrate vector control.
(3)
Vertebrate vector control.
(b)
The state department may establish by regulation exemptions from the requirements of this section that are deemed reasonably necessary to further the purposes of this section.
(c)
The state department shall establish by regulation minimum standards for continuing education for any government agency employee certified under Section 116110 and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, who handles, applies, or supervises the use of any pesticide for public health purposes.
(d)
An official record of the completed continuing education units shall be maintained by the state department. If a certified technician fails to meet the requirements set forth under subdivision (c), the state department shall suspend the technician’s certificate or certificates and immediately notify the technician and the employing district. The state department shall establish by regulation procedures for reinstating a suspended certificate.
(e)
The state department shall charge and collect a nonreturnable renewal fee of one hundred twenty dollars ($120) to be paid by each continuing education certificant on or before the first day of July, or on any other date that is determined by the state department. Each person employed on September 29, 1996, in a position that requires certification shall first pay the annual fee the first day of the first July following that date. All new certificants shall first pay the annual fee the first day of the first July following their certification.
(f)
The state department shall collect and account for all money received pursuant to this section and shall deposit it in the Vectorborne Disease Account provided for in Section 116112. Notwithstanding Section 116112, fees deposited in the Vectorborne Disease Account pursuant to this section shall be available for expenditure, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to implement this section.
(g)
Fees collected pursuant to this section shall be subject to the annual fee increase provisions of Section 100425.