The Pesticide Notification Act requires all schools to notify parents before spraying pesticides, and only spray when children will be out of the building for at least seven hours. It also encourages something called integrated pest management. That's an all-encompassing approach to reducing pests by keeping areas clean, introducing insect-repelling plants or animals, and when necessary, spraying chemicals.

Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association President Tomi Waters Boylstein says it's important to find alternatives to pesticides whenever possible. "There've been several cases of children in Pennsylvania who've had serious reactions," she says. "For many years, the materials that were used were very strong toxic chemicals. The basis for any kind of bug spray is really a neurotoxin. It paralyzes the brain of the insect that's being sprayed."

The bill requires schools to notify parents when pesticides will be used. Waters Boylstein says prior regulations required some parental notification - but only if children were registered as hyper-sensitive to chemicals.

"Our concern in PTA was that every parent had that opportunity to have their child removed from the spraying area," she says. "Part of it too is that we want integrated pest management in the schools and for schools to be really aware of how to use that in the best way."

Frank Gasparini is with the pesticide trade group Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment. He says IPM is a responsible way to deal with unwanted visitors. "It's an overall holistic approach," he says. "Looking at the site, what it's used for, what the pests are, and then looking at all the tools you have available and selecting the best tools to control the pests now, and prevent them from coming back in large numbers quickly."

Gasparini says pesticides have a place in IPM, but often won't get the job done without looking at other solutions, like keeping a school's kitchens clean, and eliminating small holes in the building where pests may enter. He says when used properly, chemicals can be safer than exposing children to insects.

"A lot of people think pesticides are sprayed routinely in the schools," he says. "And that isn't really the case. They tend to be used on a spot basis, in limited areas, and when done by professionals it can be done in a manner that doesn't cause people to be at risk."

The new rules will go into effect January 1, 2003.