Updated Law Signed By The Governor

Less Toxic Lawn Care Law for Schools and Childcares

Success!  SPCP is proud to announce our success in getting current law amended to better protect children from toxic lawn care chemicals. Governor Quinn signed the amendments into law on August 13, 2009.

In the spring of 2009 the Illinois legislature overwhelmingly approved new provisions to the current Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act.  They include:

• adding day care facilities to the act
• extending the parent notification provision to at least four days before application of lawn care chemicals takes place
• requires the designation of a staff person to coordinate lawn applications at all schools and childcare facilities

In addition, language was added to the law that recommends the use of less toxic lawn care practices.  Unfortunately an amendment that would have required a waiting period before allowing children to play on treated lawns was rejected.  However, SPCP recommends a wait period of 12 to 24 hours before play is resumed on chemically treated lawns. We want to thank everyone for their support. Please write to your state representatives and thank them for taking action on this issue.

Safer Pest Control Project continues to advocate for the protection of people and the environment from the harmful affects of pesticides.  We are proud of our success in helping to pass this legislation which will help protect one of our most vulnerable populations - children - from exposure to these poisons.

Click here for a

 Summary of the New Lawn Care Act, 2009. 

Get your copy of the amended version of the law. Contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture for more information about enforcement of the law.

IPM LAWS = HEALTHIER SCHOOLS

2007 Amendment to 1999 Schools IPM Law

Due largely to the efforts of Safer Pest Control Project, Illinois passed two laws in 1999 that require public schools to adopt safer methods of pest control inside school buildings. Now, in 2007, SPCP was instrumental in passage of an amendment to strengthen those laws.

As of August 2007, districts are required to adopt AND implement an IPM program when economically feasible. If filing an exemption for economic reasons, at least one staff member must be trained on Integrated Pest Management practices within one year of filing. Exemptions must be renewed every year. Districts must also notify parents and school staff of broadcast pesticide application both inside and outside school buildings.

Nationwide, schools and parents are increasingly concerned about the dangers of pesticide use in schools and have supported similar legislation in states across the country.

Parents and community members can help school districts improve their pest control practices by contacting the district and encouraging them to implement an Integrated Pest Management program, and to notify parents and employees before using pesticides. School administrators will be more conscious of their pest control policy if they know parents are concerned about the issue.

Working together, we can protect children from pesticides.

Click here to get your copy of the Illinois Structural Pest Control Act .

New Schools and Childcare IPM Program Binder Available

Download your copy today!

Illinois law requires schools and childcares to have an IPM program in place if economically feasible.  This document helps jump start the process.

Download your copy of the 2009 IPM School/Childcare Binder here.

Contained in this document are all the materials your school needs to put an IPM program in place including sample policies, forms and protocol. All forms and other documents are formatted as Adobe PDF fillable files so you can make them facility specific.

The document is designed to provide a school or childcare facility with a format for keeping records as well as providing guidance for program development.  It's devided into eight sections.  The first two sections are designed to give background information for program development and the evaluation of your current pest control program.  Subsequent sections prompt and guide you through proper protocol and recordkeeping requirements.  The last section lists important resources.

SPCP recommends creating a tabbed binder and insert one section per tab for easy reference.

Be state-of-the-art! Be proactive! Be green!  Get your IPM program up and running for a safer, healthier learning environment.

Chicago Public Schools DIY: Train Your Staff on IPM*

NEW - PowerPoint slides and a script to help you train your staff.

You've attended IPM training and now you'd like to clue the rest of the school staff in on how they can help make IPM a success at your school. SPCP has developed this easy to use PowerPoint presentation and script to help you do just that.

Use the entire presentation or just a portion to suit your needs. There are also links to factsheets that you can print and copy to hand out.

The script includes basic instructions on how to use this tool and how to receive incentives for completing a staff training.


Download CPS Staff IPM Presentation Script

Download CPS Staff IPM PowerPoint Presentation

Download Factsheet CPS IPM for Teachers

*Other districts can contact SPCP for a "generic" version of the script and presentation.

PESTICIDES IN SCHOOLS

Schools have a responsibility to provide safe and healthy learning environments. Does your child’s school use dangerous pesticides? Consider this:

 Children are especially vulnerable and disproportionately exposed to pesticides.

 Pesticides have been linked to cancer, reproductive, neurological, behavioral and immunological disorders, as well as asthma.

 Alternative methods of pest control, such as Integrated Pest Management, are often more effective and, over time, less expensive than chemical pesticides.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is common-sense pest control that combines preventive techniques, non-chemical pest control, and the appropriate use of pesticides with preferences for products that are the least harmful to human health and the environment.

IPM in Schools

Public Act 91-0525

This law requires Illinois public schools to adopt an integrated pest management program to control indoor pests at the facility. Districts must also notify parents and staff at least two days before indoor application of pesticides. Districts can be granted an exemption from using IPM if they can prove it is too costly. No schools are exempt from notifying parents and staff prior to indoor pesticide use.

view law

Effective date: August 1, 2000

Parents Right-to-Know of Outdoor Use of Pesticides

Public Act 91-0099

This law requires Illinois Public Schools to notify parents and staff at least two days prior to application of pesticides on school grounds, athletic fields and lawns. No schools are exempt from notifying parents and staff prior to outdoor pesticide use.

view law

Effective date: July 9, 1999