The budget cuts to the IL Dept of Ag have many implications, one of which is the difficulty in providing key staffing to process the many pesticide license renewals that must be handled each year.  To help both our industry and the IDA assure a more streamlined way to handle this program, IFCA helped to introduce and support legislation in Springfield that will make the renewal of your commercial pesticide applicator and operator licenses coincide with the year in which you take your pesticide exam.  Put simply, once you pass the exam you will pay for a license that is good for 3 years, you won't have to renew your license annually.  The fee to renew will go from $60 each year to $180 for a 3 year license.  If you change employers, you can transfer your license for a $10 transfer fee.  Both the Illinois Senate and House have approved the bill (SB 2918) and we expect Governor Rauner will sign it sometime this summer.  The goal of this legislation was to eliminate paperwork, time and delays in the licensing process.  IFCA's Government Relations Director KJ Johnson worked with Senator Bill Cunningham and Representative David Reis as the key sponsors of this bill and was able to line up the majority of legislators to support this change in the Pesticide Act.  To see a copy of the legislation, click here.  The 3 year renewal process will be phased in over the next two years until everyone is on a 3 year renewal cycle.  If you have questions contact KJ at the IFCA office.