Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §4582, as amended by PL 1991, c. 99, §§13 to 17, is further amended by adding after the 2nd paragraph a new 3rd paragraph to read:

For any owner, lessee, sublessee, managing agent or other person having the right to sell, rent, lease or manage a housing accommodation or any agent of these to refuse to sell, rent, lease or otherwise deny or withhold from any person or to discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions or privileges of the sale, rental or lease of such premises because the premises do or may contain environmental lead hazards or because the sale, rental or lease would trigger liability under Title 14, section 222 or duties under Title 22, chapter 252.__ Refusing to rent to families with children in violation of law does not constitute compliance with Title 22, chapter 252.__ Refusing to renew the lease of or evicting families with children does not constitute compliance with Title 22, chapter 252.

Sec. 2. 14 MRSA §222 is enacted to read:

§222.__Liability for lead poisoning

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Owner" has the same meaning as set forth in Title 22, section 1315, subsection 5-F.

B.__"Premises" has the same meaning as set forth in Title 22, section 1315, subsection 6-A.

2.__Liability.__The owner of premises is strictly liable for all damages to a child who suffers lead poisoning caused by the owner's failure to comply with Title 22, chapter 252 if the child was under 6 years of age at the time of the lead poisoning.__A child is considered lead poisoned upon proof that the child's blood lead level equals or exceeds the blood lead level at which the Department of Health and Human Services by rule defines lead poisoning.

3.__Exceptions.__An owner is not liable under subsection 2 if:

A.__The premises were constructed in 1978 or later; or

B.__The premises were certified as lead-free or lead-safe within the 12 months previous to the presence of the child