Section 8616.5.

(a) The county agricultural commissioner shall be the lead agency for inspections and routine investigations of pesticide use by the board licensees and registered companies, and of persons engaged in unlicensed structural pest control. When a matter is referred to the board for action, the board shall be the lead agency and may require that the commissioner assist in any investigation.

(b) The board and the Director of Pesticide Regulation shall jointly develop the list of the types of investigations to be conducted by the commissioner that may result in the suspension of a license or company registration, or the imposition of a fine, pursuant to Section 8617 and the list of the types of violations that the commissioner shall refer to the board for disciplinary action.

(c) As used in subdivision (a), the term "routine investigations" means all investigations of pesticide misuse by a board licensee or registered company except (1) investigation of misuse incidents that are referred to the board for disciplinary action or that are the basis for county actions to suspend or fine structural pest control licensees or registered companies in accordance with the lists promulgated pursuant to subdivision (b), or (2) any investigation performed by the county agricultural commissioner that has been requested by the board and involves exclusively a violation of this code.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 306, Sec. 29. Effective January 1, 2002.)