(1) To provide a means of documenting and ensuring compliance with best management practices for commercial fertilizer application to urban landscapes, the department shall establish a limited certification for urban landscape commercial fertilizer application.

(2) Beginning January 1, 2014, any person applying commercial fertilizer to an urban landscape must be certified under this section.

(3) To obtain a limited certification for urban landscape commercial fertilizer application, an applicant must submit to the department:

(a) A copy of the training certificate issued pursuant to s. 403.9338.

(b) A certification fee set by the department in an amount of at least $25 but not more than $75. Until the fee is set by rule, the fee for certification is $25.

(4) A limited certification for urban landscape commercial fertilizer application issued under this section expires 4 years after the date of issuance. Before applying for recertification under subsection (5), the applicant must complete 4 classroom hours of acceptable continuing education, of which at least 2 hours address fertilizer best management practices.

(5) An application for recertification must be made 4 years after the date of issuance of the current certificate and be accompanied by:

(a) Proof of having completed the 4 classroom hours of acceptable continuing education required under subsection (4).

(b) A recertification fee set by the department in an amount of at least $25 but not more than $75. Until the fee is set by rule, the fee for certification is $25.

(6) Upon expiration, or after a grace period that does not exceed 30 days after expiration, a certificate may be issued only upon reapplying in accordance with subsection (3).

(7) Certification under this section does not authorize:

(a) The application of pesticides to turf or ornamentals, including pesticide fertilizer mixtures;

(b) The operation of a pest control business; or

(c) The application of pesticides or fertilizers by unlicensed or uncertified personnel under the supervision of the certified person.

(8) The department may provide information concerning the certification status of persons certified under this section to other local and state governmental agencies. The department is encouraged to create an online database that lists all persons certified under this section.

(9) Yard workers who apply fertilizer only to individual residential properties using fertilizer and equipment provided by the residential property owner or resident are exempt from the requirements of this section.

(10) The department may adopt rules to administer this section.

History.—s. 7, ch. 2009-199; s. 3, ch. 2016-61.