(1) A certificate or license issued by the director does not exonerate the holder from responsibility for damage resulting from misuse of pesticides, such as, but not limited to, overdosing, drifting, or misapplication.

  (2) A person claiming damages from a pesticide application shall file a claim to, and on a reporting form provided by, the director. This report shall be filed within 60 days after the date of the alleged damaging application or first observation of damage by the claimant. If a growing crop is alleged to have been damaged, the report shall be filed before 25% of the crop is harvested. The director shall, within 7 days after receipt of the report, notify the applicator and the owner or lessee of the property or other persons who may be charged with the responsibility of the damages claimed, and furnish them copies of any statements that are requested. The director or his or her representative will inspect damages if the director determines that the complaint has sufficient merit. The director shall make all information pertaining to the complaint available to the person claiming damage and to the person who is alleged to have caused the damage.

  (3) The claimant shall permit the director, the applicator, and their representatives, such as a bondsman or insurer, to observe within reasonable hours the property or nontarget organism alleged to have been damaged and to collect samples for further examination in order that damage may be determined.

  (4) The filing of a report or the failure to file a report is not required to be alleged in any petition filed in a court of law, and the failure to file the report is not a bar to the maintenance of a criminal or civil action.