Work Group on Pesticides and Health

Working with the Legislature

Due to Oregon Toxics Alliance's hard work in the 2007 legislature, the state senate formed the Senate Work Group on Pesticides and Children's Health.   The Work Group represents a broad array of interests including environmental, medical, agricultural, chemical, and educational. OTA holds 4 positions on the workgroup. 

At the Workgroup meeting on October 7, the Workgroup chair (Senator Suzanne Bonamici – D Washington County) distributed draft legislation (LC 804) to reduce pesticides in schools (more specifically the legislation will require Integrated Pest Management in schools).  Oregon Toxics Alliance is now studying the draft and is preparing a detailed analysis.  We will be fighting to make this law into a strong and comprehensive law that requires verifiable pesticide reduction (IPM) at all schools, day cares, and public facilities.  It is our hope that by the end of the 2009 Legislative Session, Oregon will truly protect our children’s and eliminate exposures to pesticides.  We will be publishing a report on the Pesticide Violations at Oregon’s Schools very soon.