SB 562 Summary

• Establishes a Plant Nursery Registration Program requiring persons engaged in production or sale of nursery stock to register with the Department of Agriculture, with existing nurseries having one year from the effective date to comply.

• Exempts retail sellers with total annual nursery stock sales not exceeding $2,500 from the registration requirement.

• Requires registered nursery operators to certify they will maintain pest-free locations, document pest control actions, report new pest occurrences, utilize best management practices, and allow department inspections during reasonable business hours.

• Authorizes the department to inspect registered locations, issue quarantine orders, and require treatment or destruction of infested nursery stock or materials at the operator's expense, with no state liability for resulting economic losses.

• Establishes civil penalties for violations of the registration program, with fines deposited into the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund.