Section 18C.430 Commercial Animal Waste Technician

18C.430 COMMERCIAL ANIMAL WASTE TECHNICIAN.

Subdivision 1.Requirement.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c), after March 1, 2000, a person may not manage or apply animal wastes for hire without a valid commercial animal waste technician license. This section does not apply to a person managing or applying animal waste on land managed by the person's employer.

(b) A person managing or applying animal wastes for hire must have a valid license identification card when managing or applying animal wastes for hire and must display it upon demand by an authorized representative of the commissioner or a law enforcement officer. The commissioner shall prescribe the information required on the license identification card.

(c) A person who is not a licensed commercial animal waste technician who has had at least two hours of training or experience in animal waste management may manage or apply animal waste for hire under the supervision of a commercial animal waste technician.

Subd. 2.Responsibility.

A person required to be licensed under this section who performs animal waste management or application for hire or who employs a person to perform animal waste management or application for compensation is responsible for proper management or application of the animal wastes.

Subd. 3.License.

A commercial animal waste technician license:

(1) is valid for three years and expires on December 31 of the third year for which it is issued, unless suspended or revoked before that date;

(2) is not transferable to another person; and

(3) must be prominently displayed to the public in the commercial animal waste technician's place of business.

Subd. 4.Application.

(a) A person must apply to the commissioner for a commercial animal waste technician license on forms and in the manner required by the commissioner and must include the application fee. The commissioner shall prescribe and administer an examination or equivalent measure to determine if the applicant is eligible for the commercial animal waste technician license.

(b) The commissioner of agriculture, in cooperation with the Minnesota Extension Service and appropriate educational institutions, shall establish and implement a program for training and licensing commercial animal waste technicians.

Subd. 5.Renewal application.

A person must apply to the commissioner of agriculture to renew a commercial animal waste technician license and must include the application fee. The commissioner may renew a commercial animal waste technician license, subject to reexamination, attendance at workshops approved by the commissioner, or other requirements imposed by the commissioner to provide the animal waste technician with information regarding changing technology and to help ensure a continuing level of competence and ability to manage and apply animal wastes properly. The applicant may renew a commercial animal waste technician license within 12 months after expiration of the license without having to meet initial testing requirements. The commissioner may require additional demonstration of animal waste technician qualification if a person has had a license suspended or revoked or has had a history of violations of this section.

Subd. 6.Financial responsibility.

(a) A commercial animal waste technician license may not be issued unless the applicant furnishes proof of financial responsibility. The financial responsibility may be demonstrated by (1) proof of net assets equal to or greater than $50,000, or (2) a performance bond or insurance of the kind and in an amount determined by the commissioner of agriculture.

(b) The bond or insurance must cover a period of time at least equal to the term of the applicant's license. The commissioner shall immediately suspend the license of a person who fails to maintain the required bond or insurance.

(c) An employee of a licensed person is not required to maintain an insurance policy or bond during the time the employer is maintaining the required insurance or bond.

(d) Applications for reinstatement of a license suspended under paragraph (b) must be accompanied by proof of satisfaction of judgments previously rendered.

Subd. 7.Application fee.

A person initially applying for or renewing a commercial animal waste technician license must pay a nonrefundable application fee of $50 and a fee of $10 for each additional identification card requested.

History:

1998 c 401 s 17