An Act To Limit the Use of Pesticides on School Grounds
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0708
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, MILLETT, BROOKS, DEVIN, FECTEAU, HICKMAN, HUBBELL, MONAGHAN, WELSH, GERZOFSKY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6306

Legislative Document 
No. 708 
H.P. 484 
House of Representatives, March 5, 2015 
An Act To Limit the Use of Pesticides on School Grounds 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DAUGHTRY of Brunswick. 
Cosponsored by Senator MILLETT of Cumberland and 
Representatives: BROOKS of Lewiston, DEVIN of Newcastle, FECTEAU of Biddeford, 
HICKMAN of Winthrop, HUBBELL of Bar Harbor, MONAGHAN of Cape Elizabeth, 
WELSH of Rockport, Senator: GERZOFSKY of Cumberland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §6306 is enacted to read: 
§6306.  Use of pesticides in schools and on school grounds 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Lawn care pesticide" means a pesticide registered by the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency and labeled pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 United States Code, Section 135 et seq. for use on 
lawn, garden and ornamental sites or areas. 
B.  "Pesticide" has the same meaning as in 7 United States Code, Section 136(u). 
C.  "School" means a public elementary school, secondary school or kindergarten, or 
a nursery school that is part of a public elementary or secondary school, or a private 
elementary school, secondary school or kindergarten, or a nursery school that is part 
of a private elementary school or secondary school, approved under section 2901. 
D.  "School grounds" means land associated with a school building, including 
playgrounds, athletic fields, lawns, agricultural and recreational fields, walkways, 
fence lines and any other outdoor area used by students or staff, including property 
owned by a municipality or private entity that is regularly used for school activities. 
2.  Pesticides applications in school buildings.  The application of pesticides in 
school buildings must comply with Title 7, chapter 103, subchapter 2-A, Title 22, chapter 
258-A and rules adopted by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 
Board of Pesticides Control under those chapters. 
3.  Allowed uses of pesticides on school grounds.  Pesticides, including lawn care 
pesticides, may be used on school grounds only: 
A.  To control, repel or eliminate stinging or biting insects when there is an urgent 
threat to the health or safety of a student or staff member; 
B.  In response to the presence of animals or insects, including mosquitoes and ticks, 
identified as a public health nuisance by the Department of Health and Human 
Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention or a local public health 
officer; or 
C.  On an agricultural field in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for use 
of the pesticides for appropriate pest management. 
Sec. 2.  Adoption of rules minimizing or avoiding pesticides use on school 
grounds.  No later than January 1, 2016, the Commissioner of Education shall adopt 
rules to implement landscaping design that minimizes or avoids the necessity of the use 
of pesticides on school grounds for new construction of school facilities. 
SUMMARY 
This bill restricts the use of pesticides on school grounds. It allows their use only in 
situations that pose a health threat to a student or staff member, in response to the 
presence of animals or insects identified as a public health nuisance or on agricultural 
fields in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.  It requires the Commissioner of 
Education to adopt rules to implement landscaping design that minimizes or avoids the 
necessity of the use of pesticides on school grounds for new construction of school 
facilities.