House Bill 5234 was introduced last month to the General Assembly?EUR??,,????'???s Environment Committee. A vote on the bill before the full assembly is expected this session.

By extending the ban, State Rep. Livvy Floren, said more than 260,000 children attending sixth through 12th grade would be affected.

Ms. Floren was one of the co-sponsors of the original ban, which was passed in 2005. That ban restricted the use of lawn care pesticides at public and private preschools, elementary schools, child day care centers, and group day care homes. The ban defines lawn care pesticides as ?EUR??,,????'??a pesticide registered by the Environmental Protection Agency and labeled according to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act for lawn, garden and ornamental use.?EUR??,,????'??

The ban went into effect on Jan. 1, except in the case of emergencies, and the complete ban takes effect on July 1.