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TITLE 4AGRICULTURE
PART 1TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 7PESTICIDES
SUBCHAPTER HSTRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE
DIVISION 7INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS
RULE §7.202Education Requirements and Responsibilities of IPM Coordinators

(a) The IPM Coordinator(s) shall successfully complete a department-approved IPM Coordinator training course within six (6) months of appointment and obtain at least six (6) hours of department-approved IPM CEUs every three years. The three-year period will begin on the date the IPM Coordinator receives initial training after being appointed by the superintendent. No course may be repeated for credit within the same three-year period. One of the six (6) CEUs must be related to laws and regulations specific to IPM programs in schools. IPM Coordinators may satisfy the CEU requirements through one or more of the following methods:

  (1) completing a department-approved training course for IPM Coordinators;

  (2) completing courses that have been approved in the pest, lawn and ornamental, weed control or general IPM category; or

  (3) submitting information for a course completed, that was not previously approved by the department, for the evaluation of credit. The information must include the name of the instructor(s), verification of attendance at the course, length of time of the course stated in hours and minutes, a detailed course outline indicating the scope of the course and learning objectives, and the number of continuing education units requested. Additionally, the IPM Coordinator must demonstrate that the course content is appropriate and pertinent to the use of pesticides and the implementation of IPM strategies at school buildings and other school district facilities.

(b) If the IPM Coordinator is also a licensed applicator, the CEUs obtained for the license under §7.134 of this chapter (relating to Continuing Education Requirements for Certified Applicators) will count towards the six (6) hours of IPM CEUs.

(c) Following the three-year effective CEU period, IPM Coordinators must maintain certificates of completion for one additional calendar year (period through December 31). The certificates are subject to inspection by the department at any time upon request.

(d) In addition to implementing the school district IPM program, the IPM Coordinator shall oversee and be responsible for:

  (1) coordination of pest management personnel, ensuring that all school employees who perform pest control, including those employees authorized to perform incidental use applications, have the necessary training, are equipped with the appropriate personal protective equipment, and have the necessary licenses for their pest management responsibilities;

  (2) ensuring that all IPM program records, including incidental use training records (as provided for under §7.205 of this chapter (relating to Incidental Use for Schools)), pest-related work orders, pest control service reports, pesticide applications, and pesticide complaints are maintained for a period of two (2) years and are made available to a department inspector upon request;

  (3) working with district administrators to ensure that all pest control proposal specifications for outside contractors are compatible with IPM principles, and that contractors work under the guidelines of the school district's IPM policy;

  (4) ensuring that all pesticides used on school district property are in compliance with the school district's IPM program and that current pesticide labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are available for interested individuals upon request;

  (5) overseeing and implementing that portion of the plan that ensures that school district administrators and relevant school district personnel are provided opportunities to be informed and educated about their roles in the IPM program, reporting, and notification procedures;

  (6) ensuring that pesticide applications, including the approval of emergency applications at buildings and on school district grounds, are conducted in accordance with Division 7 of this subchapter; and

  (7) maintaining a current copy of the school district's IPM policy and making available to a department inspector upon request.


Source Note: The provisions of this §7.202 adopted to be effective December 21, 2015, 40 TexReg 9116; amended to be effective January 16, 2023, 48 TexReg 129

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