Senate File 182 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY BOLKCOM Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to restrictions on the use of fertilizer 2 containing phosphorus on turf and making a penalty applicable. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2244SS 83 5 tm/nh/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 200.3, Code 2009, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 27A. "Turf" means noncrop land planted 1 4 with closely mowed, managed grasses including but not limited 1 5 to residential and commercial property, private golf courses, 1 6 and property owned by the state or a political subdivision of 1 7 the state including parks, recreation areas, and public golf 1 8 courses. "Turf" does not mean pasture, hay, turf grown on 1 9 turf farms, or any other form of agricultural production. 1 10 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 200.23 TURF FERTILIZER 1 11 RESTRICTIONS. 1 12 1. A person may apply a fertilizer containing phosphorus 1 13 to turf only under any of the following circumstances: 1 14 a. A tissue, soil, or other test by a laboratory or other 1 15 method approved by the secretary and performed within the 1 16 three years prior to application indicates that the level of 1 17 available phosphorus in the soil is insufficient to support 1 18 healthy turf growth. 1 19 b. The property owner or an agent of the property owner is 1 20 first establishing turf by seed or sod procedures. Fertilizer 1 21 containing phosphorus may only be applied during the first 1 22 growing season following the application of the seed or sod 1 23 procedure. 1 24 c. The fertilizer containing the phosphorus is used on 1 25 golf course turf under the direction of a person licensed, 1 26 certified, or approved by an organization with an ongoing turf 1 27 management training program approved by the secretary. 1 28 2. Applications of fertilizer containing phosphorus 1 29 pursuant to subsection 1 shall not exceed rates approved by 1 30 the secretary. 1 31 3. The secretary, in consultation with the Iowa 1 32 cooperative extension service in agriculture and home 1 33 economics, shall produce consumer information on restrictions 1 34 and recommended best practices for lawn fertilizer containing 1 35 phosphorus, and on best management practices for other 2 1 residential sources of phosphorus in the urban landscape. The 2 2 information must be in a format and of a content suitable for 2 3 posting and distribution at retail points of sale of 2 4 fertilizer that contains phosphorus and is for use on turf. 2 5 EXPLANATION 2 6 This bill relates to restrictions on the use of fertilizer 2 7 containing phosphorus on turf. 2 8 The bill allows a person to apply a fertilizer containing 2 9 phosphorus to turf only under three circumstances: 2 10 1. A tissue, soil, or other test by a laboratory or other 2 11 method approved by the secretary and performed within the 2 12 three years prior to application indicates that the level of 2 13 available phosphorus in the soil is insufficient to support 2 14 healthy turf growth. 2 15 2. The property owner is first establishing turf by seed 2 16 or sod procedures. 2 17 3. The fertilizer containing the phosphorus is used on 2 18 golf course turf under the direction of a person licensed, 2 19 certified, or approved by an organization with an ongoing turf 2 20 management training program approved by the secretary of 2 21 agriculture. 2 22 The bill provides that allowable applications of fertilizer 2 23 containing phosphorus shall not exceed rates approved by the 2 24 secretary of agriculture. 2 25 The bill requires the secretary of agriculture, in 2 26 consultation with the Iowa cooperative extension service in 2 27 agriculture and home economics, to produce consumer 2 28 information on restrictions and recommended best practices for 2 29 lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus, and on best management 2 30 practices for other residential sources of phosphorus in the 2 31 urban landscape. 2 32 The bill defines the term "turf" to mean noncrop land 2 33 planted with closely mowed, managed grasses including but not 2 34 limited to residential and commercial property, private golf 2 35 courses, and property owned by the state or a political 3 1 subdivision of the state including parks, recreation areas, 3 2 and public golf courses. "Turf" does not mean pasture, hay, 3 3 turf grown on turf farms, or any other form of agricultural 3 4 production. 3 5 A criminal penalty of a simple misdemeanor is applicable to 3 6 violations of the provisions of the bill. A simple 3 7 misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for not more than 30 3 8 days or a fine of at least $65 but not more than $625 or by 3 9 both. 3 10 LSB 2244SS 83 3 11 tm/nh/5