The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The unannounced and poorly coordinated use of pesticides to control roadside vegetation has too frequently resulted in damage to adjacent or contiguous private property. In some instances, this activity has caused growers to needlessly suffer economic loss or damage to their crops.

(b) Property owners have a right to know beforehand the manner in which state government intends to control the roadside vegetation adjacent or contiguous to their property.

(c) It is in the public interest to establish a voluntary mechanism by which private property owners may meet and confer with representatives of state government to enter into mutually acceptable voluntary agreements to promote coordinated programs for roadside vegetation control, and thereby minimize damage to adjacent and contiguous property.

(d) Mutually acceptable agreements may include, but are not limited to, provisions whereby the property owner assumes responsibility for roadside vegetation control in a manner which is at least as effective as that proposed by state government, the use of mechanical means of vegetation control, the use of a combination of pesticide and mechanical means of control, a delay in the application of a pesticide, or the use of different pesticides.

(e) Private property owners and representatives of state government are encouraged to voluntarily develop creative and innovative means to accomplish the goals and objectives of this chapter.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 361, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)