ALBANY (AP) -- The state Senate has approved a bill banning pesticides on school playgrounds and ballfields.
The measure still needs approval from the governor and Assembly to become law. The Assembly previously passed a similar bill, so the two chambers would have to agree on a reconciliation bill.
Previous attempts to get such legislation enacted have failed.
Chemical companies and the state School Boards Association have lobbied against the bill. Chemical companies say their products are highly regulated by state and federal agencies and are safe to use.
School administrators say banning the chemicals would subject children to swarms of insects and would be costly to schools that would have to resort to hand-weeding.
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