S.R. NO. 117 Summary

• Department of Agriculture and Department of Health are requested to jointly conduct a study of short-term and long-term effects of chlorpyrifos pesticide on farmworkers, with special focus on pregnant or possibly pregnant farmworkers.

• Study must include information from department consultants and experts, raw data, availability of medical services for exposed workers, records of pregnant farmworkers' exposure levels, and recommendations on additional state agency participation.

• EPA's November 2016 risk assessment found chlorpyrifos has no safe uses, with pesticide drift reaching unsafe levels 300 feet from treated fields and workers exposed to unsafe levels even with maximum protective equipment.

• California added chlorpyrifos to its list of chemicals causing reproductive and developmental toxicity in December 2017, and the CHARGE study found nearby pesticide application during pregnancy triples the risk of autism.

• Departments must submit a report with findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation no later than twenty days before the 2019 Regular Session convenes.