AB165: Bill Text

LRB-1695/1

RCT:jld:md

2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Assembly BILL 165

May 31, 2011 - Introduced by Representatives Knilans, Kestell, Rivard, LeMahieu, Petryk, Brooks, Williams, Thiesfeldt and Spanbauer, cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Galloway and Grothman. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB165,1,2 An Act to repeal and recreate 94.643 (4) of the statutes; relating to: the display of turf fertilizer containing phosphorus.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law generally prohibits a person from applying fertilizer containing phosphorus to grass, except under specified circumstances. The law also prohibits a retailer from displaying grass fertilizer that contains phosphorus. A retailer may post a sign stating that grass fertilizer containing phosphorus is available upon request for use in the circumstances allowed under the law.

This bill eliminates the prohibition on the retail display of grass fertilizer that contains phosphorus. The bill requires a retailer that sells grass fertilizer that contains phosphorus to post a sign describing the general prohibition against applying fertilizer that contains phosphorus to grass and the exceptions to the prohibition.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB165, s. 1 Section 1. 94.643 (4) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB165,2,2 94.643 (4) Sign required. A person who sells at retail turf fertilizer that is labeled as containing phosphorus shall post in a prominent location a sign stating that the application of fertilizer that is labeled as containing phosphorus to turf is prohibited by law except for the following purposes:

AB165,2,4 (a) For establishing grass, using seed or sod, during the growing season in which a person began establishing the grass.

AB165,2,7 (b) For application to an area if the soil in the area is deficient in phosphorus, as shown by a soil test performed no more than 36 months before the application by a laboratory.

AB165,2,9 (c) For application to pasture, land used to grow grass for sod, or any other land used for agricultural production.

AB165,2,10 (End)