Sacramento, CA – Today Assemblymember Jared Huffman's (D-San Rafael) bill to reform the state's process for deciding whether and how to aerially spray for pests in urban areas passed the Assembly floor on a 54-0 vote. 

AB 2765 will bring disclosure and public involvement into the decision-making process.  The bill requires the Department of Agriculture to hold public hearings before deciding to spray and to disclose elements of the spray to the public.

It requires an evaluation of the human and environmental health effects of the spray.  AB 2765 is part of a package of bills introduced in response to the proposed spraying of the Bay Area and continued spraying of the Monterey/Santa Cruz area for the Light Brown Apple Moth.

"What my constituents and I have found is there is a disconnect between the process used by Sacramento regulators, and the reasonable expectations of citizens on the issue of aerial spraying; this bill is part of the effort to re-connect them,” said Huffman.  “We think the public needs to be part of the decision-making process and that ingredients and safety issues should be addressed in advance, not as an after-thought.  My district is justifiably alarmed by this issue; from mothers to retirees to working folks, everyone is concerned about the spraying that is proposed for the fall."

The proposed spraying program in the Bay Area and the Monterey Bay Area has been put on hold by the Governor in order to do more health testing of the pheromone sprays being considered.  AB 2765 next goes to the Senate for consideration.  It is supported by a wide consortium of environmental groups including Pesticide Watch, Sierra Club, and Marin Organic.  Agriculture interests are neutral on the measure.