Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Educate the Public and Department Clients about How To Protect One's Family from Bisphenol A

Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to update its website for accuracy and consistency with the latest scientific information on the major source of exposure to BPA. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall update the page on its publicly accessible website entitled "How to Protect Your Family from BPA (Bisphenol A)" for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children of the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to reflect the latest scientific findings on canned food as the major source of exposure to bisphenol A, referred to in this resolve as "BPA," to accurately indicate the regulatory status in this State of other products that once contained BPA, including reusable food and beverage containers, infant formula cans and baby food jars, and to further identify actions that program participants can take to prevent exposure to BPA; and be it further

Sec. 2. Department of Health and Human Services to prepare educational outreach materials on how to protect one's family from BPA. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention's division of environmental health shall prepare educational outreach materials on how to protect one's family from BPA that include information on the chemical's hazards, major sources of exposure and most susceptible and most exposed populations. The educational outreach materials must also include actions the public can take to prevent exposure to BPA, including alternatives to the consumption of canned foods and jarred foods that contain BPA; and be it further

Sec. 3. Department of Health and Human Services to educate the public and program participants about how to protect one's family from BPA. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall develop a plan to educate the public about how to protect one's family from BPA, with an emphasis on reaching the populations who are most susceptible and who are most exposed to BPA. The plan must include an evaluation of the feasibility of providing educational information directly to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children of the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966 about alternatives to the consumption of canned foods and jarred foods that contain BPA. The plan must identify potential sources of funding to implement this educational outreach program; and be it further

Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 1, 2016, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall submit a report on the department's progress in carrying out the purposes of this resolve to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services.

Summary

This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to update the information it provides on the page on its publicly accessible website entitled "How to Protect Your Family from BPA (Bisphenol A)" to reflect the latest scientific findings and to develop educational outreach materials and a plan to educate members of the public at greatest risk from bisphenol A, including participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children of the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966.