An Act To Prevent Lead Poisoning in Children

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  immediately starting to provide free home lead tests to parents of young children is necessary to ensure the safety of children; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1317-B,  as amended by PL 1991, c. 810, §22, is further amended to read:

§ 1317-B. Educational and publicity program

The commissioner shall institute an educational and publicity program in order to inform the general public, health care providers and other appropriate groups of the dangers, frequency and sources of lead poisoning; the methods of preventing lead poisoning; and methods to abate lead-based substances and other environmental lead hazards from dwellings and premises. As part of the educational and publicity program, a representative of the home visiting program established pursuant to section 262 shall provide free home lead test kits to parents of young children living in homes built before 1978. For the purposes of this section, "young children" means children from birth to 5 years of age.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This bill provides that as part of the Department of Health and Human Services' educational and publicity program concerning lead poisoning, the home visiting program established by the department is required to provide free home lead test kits to parents of young children living in homes built before 1978.