Oregon Bee Protection Bill Gutted, But They're Going To Form A TASK FORCE!!!

[hatrack]

A bill that would restrict pesticides believed to be dangerous to bees has been gutted and replaced with a proposal to increase education and form a task force.

The change came after consultation with scientists, nursery and agriculture interests, and environmental groups, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jeff Reardon, D-Portland, told a House committee this morning.

The Oregon Farm Bureau Federation and the Oregon Association of Nurseries had opposed the original draft.

EDIT

It also would create a 10-member Task Force on Pollinator Health to examine pesticide regulation and outreach efforts in other states and countries, the effectiveness of current regulations, and best practices for avoiding harm to bees. The task force would be required to submit a report by Oct. 1, that could recommend legislation for the 2015 legislative session.

EDIT/END

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20140211/UPDATE/140211013/Bill-restricting-pesticides-bee-protection-gutted?nclick_check=1

[DetlefK]

1. Disband that task-force in August 2014 as a frivolous waste of taxpayer-money...

...then have republican member of the task force issue a statement that we need more info before we can act. The best plan would be to let the pesticide companies voluntarily hand in information about the impact of their products until... How about end of 2015?

Then a new task force could be formed in mid-2016, to deliver their results until spring 2017, triggering the Oregon legislative to jump into action in end of 2017, with a plan that would give the companies until 2020 to do something about it voluntarily, which off course they won't so a backup-plan would kick in in 2021 which would force the companies to do something by 2022.