2023 -- H 5318

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LC000920

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Kislak, Carson, Cortvriend, Casimiro, Vella-
Wilkinson, Diaz, Giraldo, Hull, and Felix

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-24.6-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-24.6 entitled "Lead

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

     23-24.6-4. Definitions.

     For the purposes of this chapter:

     (1) "Apprenticeable" means any nationally-recognized occupation that has a pre-existing

registered apprenticeship program approved pursuant to 29 C.F.R. Part 29 and Part 30.

     (2) "Approved apprenticeship program" or "apprenticeship program" means an

apprenticeship program that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, or by a

recognized state apprenticeship agency, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. Parts 29 and 30; however, such

programs shall not include those that have obtained only provisional approval status. The required

apprenticeship programs may either be programs that have specifically allocated funding and are

subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.

("ERISA"), or non-ERISA programs financed by general funds of employers.

     (1)(3) “Childhood lead poisoning” means a confirmed venous blood lead level, measured

in micrograms of lead per deciliter of whole blood, established by rule by the Rhode Island

department of health based on the best available information about the effects of elevated blood

lead levels.

     (2)(4) “Comprehensive environmental lead inspection” means the inspection of any

structure or premises for the presence of lead in various media and includes sampling as may be

necessary or expedient in order to determine compliance in the structure or premises with standards

for being lead safe or lead free.

     (3)(5) “Department” means the state department of health.

     (4)(6) “Director” means the director of health.

     (5)(7) “Dwelling” means any enclosed space which is wholly or partly used or intended to

be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.

     (6)(8) “Dwelling unit” means any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and

forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living,

sleeping, cooking, and eating.

     (7)(9) “Environment intervention blood lead level” means a confirmed concentration, in a

person under six (6) years of age, of lead in whole blood of greater than or equal to twenty (20)

micrograms per deciliter for a single test or for fifteen (15) to nineteen (19) micrograms per deciliter

for two (2) tests taken at least three (3) months apart or as defined by the department consistent

with regulations adopted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

     (8)(10) “Environmental lead hazard reduction” means activities undertaken by or on behalf

of a property owner in order to achieve lead free or lead safe status pursuant to the requirements of

this chapter.

     (11) "Federal EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions" means federal regulations issued by

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency related to minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking

water found at the Federal Register (86 FR 31939), as updated from time to time.

     (12) "Full lead service line replacement" means the replacement of a lead service line that

results in the entire length, including lead goosenecks or other lead connectors, of the service line.

     (13) "Galvanized service line" means iron or steel piping that has been dipped in zinc to

prevent corrosion or rusting.

     (14) "Galvanized requiring replacement" means where a galvanized service line is or was

at any time downstream of a lead service line or is currently downstream of a service line.

     (15) "IIJA" means the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. No. 117-58

(2021) relating to drinking water found at Division E, Title I.

     (9)(16) “Inspection” means the inspection, other than a comprehensive environmental lead

inspection, of any structure or premises undertaken to determine compliance with the requirements

of this chapter or with orders issued pursuant to this chapter.

     (10)(17) “Insurer” means every medical service corporation, hospital service corporation,

health maintenance organization, or other insurance company offering and/or insuring health

services; the term includes any entity defined as an insurer under § 42-62-4.

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     (11)(18) “Lead contractor” means any person or entity engaged in lead hazard reduction as

a business and includes consultants who design, perform, oversee, or evaluate lead hazard reduction

projects undertaken pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.

     (12)(19) “Lead exposure hazard” means a condition that presents a clear and significant

health risk to occupants of the dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises, particularly where there are

children under the age of six (6) years.

     (13)(20) “Lead free” means that a dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises either contains no

lead or contains lead in amounts less than the maximum acceptable environmental lead levels

established by department of health regulations.

     (14)(21) “Lead hazard reduction” means any action or actions designed to reduce exposure

to toxic levels of lead which impose an unacceptable risk of exposure in any dwelling or dwelling

unit, where a child under the age of six (6) years, with environmental intervention blood lead level

or greater resides, or on any premises and may include, but is not limited to: repair, enclosure,

encapsulation, or removal of lead based paint and/or lead contaminated dust, soil or drinking water;

relocation of occupants; and cleanup measures or ongoing maintenance measures, which may

include activities and/or measures that do not present an undue risk to children under age six (6)

and can be performed by, or on behalf of, the property owner, without the person performing such

activities being licensed or certified.

     (15)(22) “Lead safe” means that a dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises has undergone

sufficient lead hazard reduction to ensure that no significant environmental lead hazard is present

and includes but is not limited to covering and encapsulation.

     (23) "Lead service lines" means any part of a public or private service line that is made of,

lined with, or contains, materials consisting of lead. Service lines with galvanized steel or iron shall

be considered lead service lines.

     (24) "Lead status unknown" means where the service line material is not known to be lead,

galvanized steel or iron requiring replacement, or a non-lead service line, such as where there is no

documented evidence supporting material classification, and otherwise where a non-lead

determination cannot be made. Lines which are lead status unknown will be considered lead service

lines.

     (25) "Non-lead" means where the service line is determined through an evidence-based

record, method, or technique not to be lead or galvanized steel or iron requiring replacement.

     (16)(26) “Occupant” means any person who legally resides in, or regularly uses, a

dwelling, dwelling unit, or structure; provided, however, that a guest of any age shall not be

considered an occupant for the purposes of this chapter.

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     (17)(27) “Owner” means any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:

     (i) Shall have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit with or without accompanying

actual possession of it, or

     (ii) Shall have charge, care, or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit as owner or agent

of the owner, or an executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any

person representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter

and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter to the same extent as if that person

were the owner. An agent of the owner excludes real estate and property management functions

where the agent is only responsible for the property management and does not have authority to

fund capital and/or major property rehabilitation on behalf of the owner.

     (iii) For purposes of publicly owned property only, the owner shall be defined to be the

chief executive officer of the municipal or state agency which owns, leases, or controls the use of

the property.

     (18)(28) “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, association, or partnership and

includes municipal and state agencies.

     (19)(29) “Premises” means a platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or parcel of land, or

plot of land, occupied by a dwelling or structure and includes any building, accessory structure, or

other structure thereon which is or will be frequently used by children under the age of six (6) years.

     (30) "Private service line" or "private side" means the portion of the service line including

appurtenances and connections thereto that runs from the curb shutoff valve into the residential

property or building.

     (20)(31) “Program” means the comprehensive environmental lead program established by

this chapter.

     (32) "Public service line" or "public side" means the portion of the service line including

appurtenances and connections thereto that runs from the water main in the street to the curb shutoff

valve.

     (21)(33) “State inspector” means the director, his or her designee, or any inspector

employed by the department of health who is authorized by the director to conduct comprehensive

environmental lead inspections and/or other inspections for the department.

     (34) "Transient non-community water system" means a non-community water system that

does not regularly serve at least twenty-five (25) individuals over six (6) months per year.

     (35) "Water supplier" means any supplier of water which operates a public water supply

system, as defined in § 46-13-2.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 23-24.6 of the General Laws entitled "Lead Poisoning Prevention

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Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

     23-24.6-28. Lead water supply replacement.

     (a) Water suppliers shall develop a service line inventory no later than October 16, 2024 to

determine the existence or absence of lead within each water connection in its service area. This

inventory shall be completed in accordance with all applicable state and federal requirements

including, but not limited to, the IIJA and the federal EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. Water

suppliers shall include in their inventories a list of all private side lead service replacements

performed in their service areas since January 1, 2018. Transient non-community water systems

are exempt from this section.

     (b) The service line inventory shall include all service lines and shall classify which are:

     (1) Lead service lines;

     (2) Non-lead; and

     (3) Lead status unknown.

     (c) Once completed, each water supplier shall provide a copy of their inventory to the

department and to the Rhode Island infrastructure bank. This inventory shall be posted on the

department's website and on the water supplier's website. Water suppliers without a website shall

make the most recent service line inventory available in a publicly accessible location in each

community they serve.

     (1) The department shall:

     (i) Establish a webpage that serves as a public dashboard to track progress towards the

deadline in subsection (a) of this section for each public water supply system;

     (ii) Publish and maintain online a map of the location of each service line and identify

whether it is a lead service line or may be of unknown material and allow this map to serve as

compliance for participating public water supply systems with requirements at 40 C.F.R. §

141.84(a)(8) that direct the systems to make the service line materials inventory publicly accessible;

and

     (iii) Define disadvantaged communities consistent with federal guidance to include

communities of color and low-income communities.

     (d) When conducting the inventory of service lines in its distribution system for the initial

inventory pursuant to this section, a water supplier shall use any information on lead and galvanized

iron or steel that it has identified pursuant to applicable state and federal requirements.

     (e) Water suppliers may utilize the following to develop a service line inventory:

     (1) Visual inspection during planned maintenance, meter replacement, and main

replacement projects;

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     (2) Solicitation and receipt of comments, complaints and other input from customers in the

service area;

     (3) Historical building records and other available data from the American Water Works

Association or other industry research groups; and/or;

     (4) Any other procedures and resources, including from 40 C.F.R. 141.84 (a)(3) the water

supplier deems appropriate for identifying lead service lines.

     (f) Within thirty (30) days of identifying a lead service line, the water supplier shall provide

written notice to the property owner, the tenants of the building and the director of the presence of

lead service lines or lead status unknown service lines. The notice shall be multilingual and include

information describing the sources of lead in drinking water, description of the health effects of

lead exposure and steps customers can take to reduce their exposure to lead in drinking water. This

notice shall include lead service line replacement instructions and contact information to schedule

a service line inspection and replacement.

     (g) A water supplier without an established lead service line replacement program shall

coordinate with the department and the Rhode Island infrastructure bank to develop a lead

replacement program.

     (h) The department and the Rhode Island infrastructure bank shall coordinate with water

suppliers to implement lead replacement programs, including assisting with providing financial

assistance to the extent the funds are available.

     (i) The department and the Rhode Island infrastructure bank shall assist water suppliers

with grants, loans or other financial assistance to ensure that public service lines containing lead

are replaced in accordance with this chapter;

     (j) Based on the inventories provided pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the

department, the water suppliers and the Rhode Island infrastructure bank, shall determine the

estimated total cost associated with all private side replacements. Consistent with any applicable

federal law and regulation and to the extent funds are available, the Rhode Island infrastructure

bank shall utilize federal funds allocated under section 50105 of the IIJA for the specific purpose

of reducing lead in drinking water, to enable water suppliers to meet all eligible private side lead

service replacement cost.

     (k) Water suppliers are not permitted to request an increase in residential water rates from

the PUC based solely on the receipt of funds, grants, or loans for a lead service line replacement

project or programs for reducing lead in drinking water.

     (l) In the event total costs exceed available federal funding allocated under section 50105

of the IIJA, the Rhode Island infrastructure bank may request appropriations in one or more fiscal

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years from the general assembly sufficient to meet the outstanding total cost of all identified

outstanding private side lead service line replacements. The Rhode Island infrastructure bank is

also authorized to apply and seek additional federal funding sources, such as grants, loans, or other

financial assistance.

     (m) For properties with a lead service line or a lead status unknown service line, water

suppliers shall inspect, at no cost to the property owner or tenant, the private side service lines to

determine whether lead or galvanized iron or steel is present. If lead is detected in the private service

line, the private service line shall be replaced in accordance with all applicable federal and state

requirements.

     (n) The water supplier shall replace the entire lead service line, if lead is present in the

public side. The water supplier shall replace the entire lead service line with minor disruption to

water service unless there is either an emergency or all persons served by the service line object to

the replacement in writing. Transient non-community water systems shall be exempt from lead

service line replacements.

     (o) In the event a property owner refuses to allow the inspection or replacement of private

side service lines, the water supplier shall file notice of all attempts to inspect or replace the private

side service lines and the property owner's refusal to allow inspection or replacement services with

the department. The notice shall state at a minimum: the date and time of each attempt; the name

of the person who refused each attempt; and the name and signature of the person who made each

attempt. The address where each refusal took place shall be published on the appropriate

department website to ensure occupants of the building have notice of the potential lead in the

service line. The notice shall be filed within thirty (30) days following the second refusal by the

property owner. The notice shall be written as a multilingual document.

     (p) If the property owner refuses to allow the inspection and/or replacement of private side

service line, the water supplier may, beginning sixty (60) days after the notice has been filed, assess

a monthly charge of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) that will accrue until the property

owner allows for the inspection and/or replacement of the private side service line. The monthly

charge shall be a lien on the property in accordance with § 39-15-12. A property owner may make

application for a hardship waiver of the assessment upon written notice to the water supplier. All

monies collected by the water supplier shall be used for lead hazard reduction.

     (q) If the property is a rental property, the owner shall inform the tenants of the presence

of lead in accordance with § 23-24.6-15(b), in language the tenant understands. If the owner fails

to provide tenants with timely notification of the existence of lead in service lines to the building

the owner shall be subject to civil penalty in accordance with § 23-24.6-27.

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     (r) In the event that a water service line in a rental property is found to contain lead and the

property owner declines or is unresponsive to a request for a service line replacement, the tenant

shall reserve the right to request and schedule a private side lead replacement with their local water

supplier. Water suppliers are authorized to notify the property owner of the tenant's request and

begin the process of scheduling a private side replacement.

     (s) When a property owner transfers the ownership of property they shall disclose the

presence of lead service lines. Pursuant to § 5-20.8-11, every contract for the transfer or purchase

and sale of real estate that is or may be served by a service line containing lead shall provide that

potential purchasers be permitted a ten (10) day period, unless the parties mutually agree upon a

different period of time, to conduct a risk assessment or an inspection of the property's water service

lines for the presence of lead hazards before becoming obligated under the contract to transfer or

purchase.

     (t) Any private side service line found to have lead, which provides water to a residential

property subject to sale or transfer, shall be removed and replaced within twelve (12) months of the

date of sale or transfer by the water supplier. The owner will schedule private side replacement

with the water supplier at the time of sale. The public side replacement, if not already replaced,

shall occur at the same time as the private side replacement.

     (u) The department and the Rhode Island infrastructure bank shall prioritize the allocation

of funds for private lead service line replacements in accordance with all federal requirements and

based on the percentage of private lead services lines present within a water supplier service area,

which shall be based on factors including, but not limited to:

     (1) Targeting known lead service lines;

     (2) Targeting populations living in zip codes with high concentration of public and private

lead service lines;

     (3) Targeting available funds to support water suppliers demonstrating a need for technical

assistance from the department or the Rhode Island infrastructure bank; and

     (4) Targeting populations most sensitive to the effects of lead.

     (v) Upon award of funds for lead service replacements, water suppliers shall prioritize

projects within their service area to disadvantaged customers, zip codes with the highest

concentration of lead presence, and those who are most sensitive to the effects of lead.

     (w) For any award of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or greater to a water supplier for a

lead service line replacement project, the Rhode Island infrastructure bank shall require water

suppliers and their contractors to participate in an approved apprenticeship program for all

apprenticeable crafts or trades that will be employed on the project at the time of bid.

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     (x) Contingent upon available funding, each water supplier shall complete the replacement

of all public and private lead service lines in its service area within ten (10) years of the effective

date of this section unless otherwise provided in this section. All lead service line replacement

projects funded under this chapter shall be completed in accordance with all applicable state and

federal requirements including, but not limited to, the IIJA, federal EPA Lead and Copper Rule

Revisions, and other related federal regulations and guidance.

     (y) Upon completion of their lead service line inventory, any water supplier which provided

financing to its customers for private side lead service replacement after January 1, 2018, shall be

eligible for reimbursement from the state for costs associated with private side lead service

replacements financed by its customers. The water supplier shall submit request for reimbursements

to the department. Within ninety (90) days of receipt of funds from the state, the water supplier

shall reimburse each customer for costs incurred in connection with their private side lead service

replacement project.

     (z) Each water supplier shall provide an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the

house, president of the senate, chairs of the house and senate finance committees, director of the

department of health, and executive director of the Rhode Island infrastructure bank within ninety

(90) days of the end of each fiscal year. The report shall contain information, including, but not

limited to, the number of public services lines per community served and the number replaced, the

number of private service lines per community served and the number replaced, an estimated

number of service lines to be replaced, property number of private service line inspections

conducted, and annual expense to replace service lines. Water suppliers whose initial inventories

contain only non-lead service lines are not required to provide subsequent annual reports required

in this section.

     (aa) Water suppliers may coordinate with the department and nonprofit lead advocacy

organizations to reach residents in communities with lead infrastructure. This coordination may

include, but is not limited to, developing education materials, awareness communications, and

multilingual outreach campaigns.

     (bb) The department shall enforce the provisions of this section.

     23-24.6-29. Compliance with federal guidelines.

     Whenever federal guidelines for reporting or replacing public or private lead service lines

using federal Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) funds are updated, the department, the

Rhode Island infrastructure bank, and water suppliers are authorized to promulgate rules and

regulations to meet or surpass existing federal rules and regulations.

     SECTION 3. Sections 5-20.8-1 and 5-20.8-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-20.8

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entitled "Real Estate Sales Disclosures" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-20.8-1. Definitions.

     When used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise:

     (1) “Agent” means any individual or entity acting on behalf of a seller or buyer to effect

the transfer of real estate. It includes listing agent, selling agent, buyer’s agent, and their respective

brokers.

     (2) “Agreement to transfer” means a purchase and sale agreement, installment-sales

contract, option to purchase agreement, or other agreement intended to effect the transfer of real

estate from a seller to a buyer.

     (3) “Buyer” means any individual or entity seeking to obtain title to real estate from a seller

for consideration.

     (4) “Closing” means the time at which real estate is transferred from seller to buyer and

consideration is delivered to the seller or to a settlement agent with the intention of imminent

delivery upon the recording of pertinent documents and other ministerial acts associated with

settlement.

     (5) “Deficient conditions” means any land restrictions, defect, malfunction, breakage, or

unsound condition existing on, in, across, or under the real estate of which the seller has knowledge.

     (6) "Lead exposure hazard" means a condition that presents a clear and significant health

risk to occupants of the dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises, particularly where there are children

under the age of six (6) years.

     (6)(7) “Real estate” means vacant land or real property and improvements consisting of a

house or building containing one to four (4) dwelling units.

     (7)(8) “Seller” means any individual or entity seeking to transfer title to real estate to a

buyer for consideration.

     (8)(9) “Transfer” means the sale or conveyance, exchange of, or option to purchase any

real estate.

     5-20.8-11. Lead inspection requirement.

     (a) Every contract for the purchase and sale of residential real estate (1-4 family)-built prior

to 1978 2011 located in the state shall provide that potential purchasers be permitted a ten-day (10)

period, unless the parties mutually agree upon a different period of time, to conduct a risk

assessment or inspection for the presence of lead exposure hazards before becoming obligated

under the contract to purchase.

     (b) Failure to include the provision required in subsection (a) in the purchase and sale

agreement for residential real estate does not create any defect in title; provided, that each violation

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of this section by the seller or his or her agent is subject to a civil penalty of not less than one

hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).

     (c) Failure to provide inspection results and/or educational materials pursuant to

department regulations required by § 23-24.6-16(a) does not create any defect in title; provided,

that each violation of this section by the seller or his or her agent is subject to a civil penalty of not

less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).

     (d) Failure to include the purchase and sale agreement provision required in subsection (a);

failure to provide inspection results pursuant to § 23-24.6-16(a); or inspection results that show a

lead exposure hazard as defined at § 23-24.6-4(12) entitles the purchaser to void the purchase and

sale agreement by providing notice, in writing, to the seller prior to the transfer of the title at closing.

     SECTION 4. 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 establish a lead water supply replacement program for public and private

service lines using federal funds provided by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

(IIJA) and other federal sources. Water suppliers would be required to develop a service line

inventory in accordance with federal guidelines and work in collaboration with the Rhode Island

infrastructure bank to develop a comprehensive replacement plan. Upon award of funds for lead

service replacements, water suppliers shall prioritize projects within their service area to

disadvantaged customers, zip codes with the highest concentration of lead presence, and those who

are most sensitive to the effects of lead. For residential properties with an identified lead service

line presence, water suppliers shall communicate these findings and replace the private lead service

line at no cost to the property owner or tenant. Water suppliers would not be allowed to request an

increase in residential water rates as a result of receiving grants, loans or other financial assistance

for the purpose of replacing lead service lines, reducing lead in drinking water, or other related

programs. For any award of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or greater to a water supplier for a

lead service line replacement project, the Rhode Island infrastructure bank shall require water

suppliers and their contractors to participate in an approved apprenticeship program. Within ninety

(90) days, at the end of each fiscal year, each water supplier shall be required to provide an annual

report to the governor, the general assembly, director of the department of health, and executive

director of the Rhode Island infrastructure bank detailing the number of public and private services

lines per community served and the number replaced, an estimated number of service lines to be

replaced, and the annual expense to replace services lines.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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