The Illinois Environmental Council and a coalition of environmental, children’s health, and industry groups are calling on the Illinois General Assembly to protect public health and safety by quickly re-enacting the Structural Pest Control Act, which governs the indoor application of pesticides in Illinois. The Act expired on January 1, 2008 after routine legislation to extend a sunset provision did not pass in 2007.

The Structural Pest Control Act governs the indoor application of pesticides and enables the state to license and regulate all Illinois pest control operators and enforce hard-won provisions for school and childcare integrated pest management. The law has what is known as a “sunset provision,” meaning it expires on a certain date unless the Illinois General Assembly votes to renew it. The legislature regularly passes bills to extend sunset dates, but in this case the bill that would have extended the sunset beyond December 31, 2007 was never called for a vote, leading to the repeal of the law.

“It’s problematic that the legislature allowed this important law to lapse,” said Jonathan Goldman, Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “Right now there is no authority for the State to regulate how pesticides are used or to take enforcement action against bad actors. It is imperative that this law be reinstated as quickly as possible.”

The inaction on the part of our legislators has left our children especially vulnerable. With their developing bodies and higher rates of metabolism, children are disproportionately affected by the health risks of pesticide exposure. They are also more likely to be exposed to these risks when they play on the ground where pesticide residues concentrate or put their hands and other objects in their mouths. This makes them more susceptible to accidental pesticide poisoning and long-term health problems such as asthma, learning disorders and cancer that can result from exposure to pesticides.

The Structural Pest Control Act has been a major factor in reducing this danger, because it requires schools and childcares to use Integrated Pest Management to reducing pest problems. IPM is a coordinated strategy that focuses on safer alternatives to pesticides and emphasizes prevention practices that eliminate the cause of pests. Without the protections guaranteed by the act, children could be exposed to ever increasing amounts of pesticides that endanger their health.

“Illinois has been a leader in protecting children from unnecessary exposure to pesticides in schools and childcares through a series of amendments to the Structural Pest Control Act. Allowing the Act to sunset last month was a huge step backwards, and we are anxious to get it back into place in order to continue to safeguard children,” said Rachel Rosenberg, Executive Director of the Safer Pest Control Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the public health risks and environmental impacts of pesticides and promoting safer alternatives in Illinois.

The coalition of groups that are advocating for the re-enactment of the law also includes: Action for Children, Citizen Action of Illinois, Illinois Association of School Nurses, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Illinois Pest Control Association, Healthy Schools Campaign, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Safer Pest Control Project, and Voices for Illinois Children.

Representative Beth Coulson (R-Glenview) is the sponsor of House Bill 4407, which would restore the Structural Pest Control Act. Cosponsoring the bill are Representatives Karen May, Michael Tryon and Art Turner.

The House Environmental Health Committee unanimously approved HB 4407 on February 13th. With a little luck, it will move quickly from the House to the Senate, since there’s no known opposition to this legislation, and in fact, the pest control industry supports a state standard in order to create a uniform regulatory climate that increases professionalism and enhances its reputation.

At that point, we will all be able to breathe a little easier.

The video clip below was taken at the Environmental Health Committee hearing, showing some of the testimony by Rep. Coulson, Chris Haggerty of the Illinois Pest Control Association, and IEC's Jonathan Goldman.