An Act To Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals”
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1888
Committee Amendment CA_B_H856 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §606

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1354, L.D. 1888, Bill, “An Act To 
Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals”
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following:
'Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §606, sub-§3 is enacted to read:
3.  Unlawful use.  A person may not apply herbicides as defined by Title 22, section 
1471-C, subsection 13 that are synthetic, including, but not limited to, glyphosate, within 
feet of school grounds.  This subsection does not apply to residential property or land 
used for commercial farming.
For purposes of this subsection, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following 
terms have the following meanings:
A.  "Commercial farming" has the same meaning as in section 52, subsection 3;
B.  "Residential property" means real property located in this State that is used for 
residential dwelling purposes;
C.  "School" means any public, private or tribally funded elementary school as 
defined in Title 20-A, section 1, subsection 10, secondary school as defined in Title 
20-A, section 1, subsection 32 or a nursery school that is part of an elementary or 
secondary school; and
D.  "School grounds" means:
(1)  Land associated with a school building including playgrounds and athletic 
fields used by students or staff of a school. "School grounds" does not include 
land used for a school farm; and
(2)  Any other outdoor area used by students or staff including property owned by 
a municipality or a private entity that is regularly used for school activities by 
students and staff but not including land used primarily for nonschool activities, 
such as golf courses, farms and museums.
Date: 
(Filing No. H-          )
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1354, L.D. 1888
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Sec. 2.  Environmental risk advisory committee; glyphosate.  The 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Board of Pesticides Control, 
within existing resources from Other Special Revenue Funds accounts, shall establish an 
environmental risk advisory committee to evaluate the environmental and human health 
risks associated with the use of glyphosate.  The advisory committee shall submit an 
interim report no later than February 1, 2022 and a final report no later than February 1, 
2023, with findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters.  Each 
report must include an analysis of the use, on an annual basis, of all products with 
glyphosate listed as an active ingredient on the label by licensed applicators in the State.  
Following receipt and review of the final report, the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters may submit a bill concerning the 
subject matter of the report to the First Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Pesticides Control - Board of 0287
Initiative: Provides an allocation for one Toxicologist position, contracted staffing, 
environmental sampling and literature review.  
' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which strikes and replaces the bill, bans the use of synthetic 
herbicides, including, but not limited to, glyphosate, within 75 feet of school grounds.  
The prohibition does not apply to agricultural land or residential property.
The amendment also directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry, Board of Pesticides Control to establish an environmental risk advisory 
committee to assess the environmental and human health risks associated with the use of 
glyphosate.  The advisory committee is required to submit an interim report no later than 
February 1, 2022 and a final report no later than February 1, 2023 with findings and 
recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over agricultural matters.  The joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over agricultural matters has the authority to submit a bill relating to the 
subject matter of the report during the First Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2019-20
2020-21
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
0.000
1.000
Personal Services
$0
$30,000
All Other
$0
$73,540
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0
$103,540
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1354, L.D. 1888
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
This amendment also provides funding to the board necessary to carry out the 
requirements of this legislation.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Approved: 08/11/20
LD 1888
LR 2898(03)
FY 2019-20
FY 2020-21
Projections  FY 
2021-22
Projections  FY 
2022-23
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds
$0
$103,540
$231,520
$88,520
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill bans the use of glyphosate under certain conditions and directs the Board of Pesticides Control (BPC), within 
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, to establish an environmental risk advisory committee to 
assess the environmental and human risks associated with the use of glyphosate and complete a final report of their 
findings by February 1, 2023.  The BPC has indicated that it will require additional staffing to complete these tasks.  
The bill includes additional allocations of $103,540 to the BPC to allow expenditure of existing resources for one 
toxicologist, contracted staffing, environmental sampling and literature review.  The impact of these new unfunded 
costs on other programs in the BPC cannot be determined at this time.
Fiscal Note
An Act To Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
LR2898(03) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1