2014 -- S 2200

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LC003816

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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: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: Senate 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 environmental lead program shall be federally funded. However, 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 to the department of health for the support and maintenance of the environmental lead

program.

     SECTION 2. 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 state of Rhode Island shall appropriate no less than six hundred

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

program.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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