206.14  Reports of pesticide accidents, incidents or loss.
  1.  The secretary may by rule require the reporting of significant pesticide accidents or incidents to a designated state agency.
  2.  Any person claiming damages from a pesticide application shall have filed with the secretary on a form prescribed by the secretary a written statement claiming that the person has been damaged.
  a.  This report shall have been filed within sixty days after the alleged date that damages occurred. If a growing crop is alleged to have been damaged, the report must be filed prior to the time that twenty-five percent of the crop has been harvested. Such statement shall contain, but shall not be limited to the name of the person allegedly responsible for the application of said pesticide, the name of the owner or lessee of the land on which the crop is grown and for which damage is alleged to have occurred, and the date on which the alleged damage occurred.
  b.  The secretary shall prepare a form to be furnished to persons to be used in such cases and such form shall contain such other requirements as the secretary may deem proper. The secretary shall, upon receipt of such statement, notify the licensee and the owner or lessee of the land or other person who may be charged with the responsibility of the damages claimed, and furnish copies of such statements as may be requested. The secretary shall inspect damages whenever possible and when the secretary determines that the complaint has sufficient merit the secretary shall make such information available to the person claiming damage and to the person who is alleged to have caused the damage.
  3.  The filing of such a report or failure to give notice shall not preclude recovery in an action for damages and shall not affect the limitations of actions set forth in chapter 614. Nothing herein shall prohibit an action for damages for bodily injury or death to any person.
  a.  The filing of such report or the failure to file such a report shall not be a violation of this chapter. However, if the person failing to file such report is the only one injured from such use or application of a pesticide by others, the secretary may, when in the public interest, refuse to hold a hearing for the denial, suspension or revocation of a license or permit issued under this chapter until such report is filed.
  b.  Where damage is alleged to have occurred, the claimant shall permit the secretary, the licensee and the licensee’s representatives, such as surety or insurer, to observe within reasonable hours the lands or nontarget organism alleged to have been damaged in order that such damage may be examined. Failure of the claimant to permit such observation and examination of the damaged lands shall automatically bar the claim against the licensee.
  4.  The secretary shall require, by rule, that veterinarians licensed and practicing veterinary medicine in the state promptly report to the department a case of domestic livestock poisoning or suspected poisoning by agricultural chemicals.
[C73, §206.13, 455B.102; C75, 77, §206.14, 455B.102; C79, §206.14, 455B.132; C81, §206.14]