‘Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry To Develop a Plan for the Protection of the Public Health from Mosquito-borne Diseases’

‘Sec. 1. Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to develop a plan for the protection of the public health from mosquito-borne diseases. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is directed to develop, within existing resources, a plan for the protection of the public health from mosquito-borne diseases, in cooperation with appropriate personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services and with other state agencies as may be necessary. In developing this plan, the department shall consider, at a minimum, the ecological and economic impacts of proposed methods of controlling mosquitoes and preventing their breeding. These proposed methods must include integrated pest management techniques and other science-based technology that minimizes the risks of pesticide use to humans and the environment. The department shall include in the plan the criteria for declaring a mosquito-borne disease public health threat, the elements of a response to such a threat and a description of the lines of authority and responsibilities during a public health threat; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall report on its plan for protecting the public health from mosquito-borne diseases to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry by December 15, 2013. The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may report out a bill on the plan for the protection of the public health from mosquito-borne diseases to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.’