2014 -- H 7803

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LC004671

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Hull, Bennett, Valencia, and Slater

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-24.6-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-24.6 entitled "Lead

Poisoning Prevention Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-24.6-5. Environmental lead program. -- (a) There is established within the

department of health an environmental lead program which shall be responsible for creating a

coordinated and comprehensive program for lead poisoning prevention, including screening and

detection, education, lead hazard reduction, and enforcement. The program shall exercise any and

all authorities of the department which may be necessary and appropriate, including but not

limited to promulgating and enforcing regulations, which regulations shall set forth a general

framework for actions to be taken in response to childhood lead poisoning at different blood lead

levels.

      (b) The department shall develop an educational program regarding environmental lead

exposures and lead poisoning.

      (c) The department shall promulgate regulations for acceptable environmental lead levels

in dwellings, where a child under the age of six (6) years with environmental intervention blood

lead level or greater resides, and in buildings or properties frequently used by children under the

age of six (6) years, including standards for lead on painted surfaces and surface coatings,

drinking water, household dusts, and soil.

     (d) The department shall seek federal funding for the environmental lead program;

provided, however, that to the extent federal funds are not available or insufficient to fund the

environmental lead program, the state of Rhode Island shall appropriate no less than six hundred

thousand dollars ($600,000) per fiscal year, commencing with fiscal year 2015 to the department

of health for the support and maintenance of the environmental lead program.

     SECTION 2. Section 42-128-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-128 entitled "Rhode

Island Housing Resources Act of 1998" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-128-8. Powers and duties. -- In order to provide housing opportunities for all Rhode

Islanders, to maintain the quality of housing in Rhode Island, and to coordinate and make

effective the housing responsibilities of the agencies and subdivisions of the state, the

commission shall have the following powers and duties:

      (1) Policy, planning and coordination of state housing functions. - The commission shall

have the power and duty:

      (i) To prepare and adopt the state's plans for housing; provided, however, that this

provision shall not be interpreted to contravene the prerogative of the state planning council to

adopt a state guide plan for housing.

      (ii) To prepare, adopt, and issue the state's housing policy.

      (iii) To conduct research on and make reports regarding housing issues in the state.

      (iv) To advise the governor and general assembly on housing issues and to coordinate

housing activities among government agencies and agencies created by state law or providing

housing services under government programs.

      (2) Establish, implement, and monitor state performance measures and guidelines for

housing programs. - The commission shall have the power and the duty:

      (i) To promulgate performance measures and guidelines for housing programs conducted

under state law.

      (ii) To monitor and evaluate housing responsibilities established by state law, and to

establish a process for annual reporting on the outcomes of the programs and investments of the

state in housing for low and moderate income people.

      (iii) To hear and resolve disputes pertaining to housing issues.

      (3) Administer the programs pertaining to housing resources that may be assigned by

state law. - The commission shall have the power and duty to administer programs for housing,

housing services, and community development, including, but not limited to, programs pertaining

to:

      (i) Abandoned properties and the remediation of blighting conditions.

      (ii) Lead abatement and to manage a lead hazard abatement program in cooperation with

the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation. The state shall seek federal funding

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to support the cost of the lead hazard abatement program. In addition, the state of Rhode Island

shall appropriate five hundred ninety thousand dollars ($590,000) per fiscal year commencing

with fiscal year 2015 to provide a state match required by such federal funding.

      (iii) Services for the homeless.

      (iv) Rental assistance.

      (v) Community development.

      (vi) Outreach, education and technical assistance services.

      (vii) Assistance, including financial support, to non-profit organizations and community

development corporations.

      (viii) Tax credits that assist in the provision of housing or foster community development

or that result in support to non-profit organizations performing functions to accomplish the

purposes of this chapter.

      (ix) The Supportive Services Program, the purpose of which is to help prevent and end

homelessness among those who have experienced long-term homelessness and for whom certain

services in addition to housing are essential. State funding for this program may leverage other

resources for the purpose of providing supportive services. Services provided pursuant to this

subsection may include, but not be limited to: assistance with budgeting and paying rent; access

to employment; encouraging tenant involvement in facility management and policies; medication

monitoring and management; daily living skills related to food, housekeeping and socialization;

counseling to support self-identified goals; referrals to mainstream health, mental health and

treatment programs; and conflict resolution.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT

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     This act would provide that in the event of insufficient federal funds for the

environmental lead program, the General Assembly shall appropriate no less than six hundred

thousand dollars ($600,000) per year for support and maintenance of the environmental lead

program, and five hundred ninety thousand dollars ($590,000) per year for the state match for the

lead hazard abatement program.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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