(a) The Department may by regulation require the reporting of pesticide accidents or incidents to the Department. (b) Any person claiming damages from a pesticide application shall have filed with the Department on a form prescribed by the Department a written statement claiming that such person has been damaged. This report shall have been filed within 60 days after the date that damage occurred, except that if a growing crop is alleged to have been damaged, the report must be filed prior to the time that 25% of the damaged crop has been harvested. Such statement shall contain, but shall not be limited to, the name of the person allegedly responsible for the application of said pesticide, if known, the name of the owner or lessee of the land on which the crop is grown and for which damage is alleged to have occurred and the date on which the alleged damage occurred. The Department shall prepare a form to be furnished to persons to be used in such cases and such form shall contain such other requirements as the Department may deem proper. The Department shall, upon receipt of such statement, notify the licensee and the owner or lessee of the land or other person who may be charged with the responsibility of the damages claimed, and furnish copies of such statements as may be requested. The Department shall inspect damages whenever possible and when it determines that the complaint has sufficient merit, it shall make such information available to the person claiming damage and to the person who is alleged to have caused the damage. (c) The filing of such report or the failure to file such a report need not be alleged in any complaint which might be filed in a court of law, and the failure to file the report shall not be considered any bar to the maintenance of any criminal or civil action. (d) Where damage is alleged to have occurred, the claimant shall permit the Department, the licensee and the licensee's representatives, such as bond agent or insurer, to observe within reasonable hours the lands or nontarget organism alleged to have been damaged in order that such damage may be examined. Failure of the claimant to permit such observation and examination of the damaged lands shall automatically bar the claim against the licensee. (e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to relieve any person from liability for any damage to the person or lands of another caused by the use of pesticides even though such use conforms to the rules and regulations of the Department.
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