BILL NUMBER: AB 786 VETOED DATE: 09/25/2000 SEP 25 2000 To Members of the California Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 786 without my signature. This bill would require school district employees, who apply pesticides as part of their regular duties, to receive training in the safe use of pesticides. The bill would also require the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to distribute training materials on the safe handling of pesticides to all schools. AB 786 is unnecessary. The training materials required by the bill are already available to schools either by request or by accessing the DPR web site. By imposing additional duties on local entities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. In addition, the bill sets an inappropriate precedent by codifying what is already required by regulation. The California Code of Regulations (Title 3, Sections 6724) requires pesticide safety training of all employees who handle pesticide s in their work setting. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS