Each school district shall establish, implement, and maintain an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. An IPM program is a regular set of procedures for preventing and managing pest problems using an integrated pest management strategy, as defined in §7.114 of this chapter (relating to Definitions. The school district is responsible for each IPM Coordinator's compliance with these regulations.
  (1) The IPM program shall contain these essential elements:
    (A) a school board approved IPM policy, stating the school district's commitment to follow integrated pest management guidelines in all pest control activities that take place on school district property. The IPM policy statement shall include:
      (i) a definition of IPM consistent with this section;
      (ii) a reference to Texas laws and rules governing pesticide use and IPM in public schools;
      (iii) information about who can apply pesticides on school district property; and
      (iv) information about designating, registering, and required training for the school district's IPM Coordinator. The Superintendent and IPM Coordinator will maintain a copy of the policy.
    (B) a monitoring program to determine when pests are present and when pest problems are severe enough to justify corrective action;
    (C) the preferential use of lower risk pesticides and the use of non-chemical management strategies to control pests, rodents, insects and weeds;
    (D) a system for keeping records of facility inspection reports, pest-related work orders, pest control service reports, pesticide applications, and pesticide complaints;
    (E) a plan for educating and informing school district employees about their roles in the IPM program; and
    (F) written guidelines that identify thresholds for when pest control actions are justified.
  (2) Each school district superintendent shall appoint an IPM Coordinator(s) to implement the school district's IPM program. Not later than 90 days after the superintendent designates or replaces an IPM Coordinator(s), the school district must report to the department the newly appointed coordinator's name, address, telephone number, email address and the effective date of the appointment. A school district that appoints more than one IPM Coordinator shall designate a Responsible IPM Coordinator who will have overall responsibility for the IPM program and provides oversight of subordinate IPM Coordinators regarding IPM program decisions. When a school district removes an IPM Coordinator, the departing IPM Coordinator, Superintendent, or Superintendent's designee must notify the department of the removal within ten (10) days in writing. A school district may not be without an IPM Coordinator for more than 30 days.
  (3) Each school district that engages in pest control activities must employ or contract with a licensed applicator, who may, if an employee, also serve as the IPM Coordinator.
  (4) Each school district shall prior to or by the first week of school attendance, ensure that a procedure is in place to provide prior notification of pesticide applications in accordance with this chapter. Individuals who request in writing to be notified of pesticide applications may be notified by telephonic, written or electronic methods.

Source Note: The provisions of this §7.201 adopted to be effective December 21, 2015, 40 TexReg 9116; amended to be effective January 16, 2023, 48 TexReg 129