MA Senate No. 657 Studying the Health Effects of Toxic Mold

[Guest guest]

Subj: MA Senate No. 657: An Act Studying the Health Effects of Toxic Mold: July 16, 2003 at 10am. Massachusetts State House Room 2A.

SENATE, No. 657

By Mr. O'Leary, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 657) of A. O'Leary, Cheryl A. Jacques, E. Canavan, L. Hedlund and other members of the General Court for legislation to authorize the study of the health effects from indoor exposure to toxic mold. Health Care.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Three.

AN ACT STUDYING THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF TOXIC MOLD

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

 SECTION 1. The Department of Public Health, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection, the Division of Occupational Safety and the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards, shall convene a task force to study the health effects of toxic mold and to recommend methods to protect the public from unsafe indoor exposure to toxic mold.  The task force’s study shall address, but not be limited to, the following areas: (a) current research, studies and findings regarding toxic molds and the health effects thereof, including but not limited to information available from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control; ( current recommendations, based on scientific studies, regarding safe indoor exposure limits to toxic molds, including but not limited the recommendations put forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control; © potential alternative safe exposure limits for certain facilities, including but not limited to schools, hospitals, child care facilities and nursing homes; (d) other states efforts to address the health effects of toxic mold, including regulations and pending legislation; and (e) standards for safe indoor exposure limits and draft regulations for the establishment and enforcement of safe indoor exposure limits to toxic mold in public and private buildings in Massachusetts, including private residences.

SECTION 2.  The task force shall consist of up to 2 representatives from each of the following offices:  the Department of Public Health, one of whom shall be from the Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Division of Occupational Safety, and the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards; two members of the legislature; and one community liaison to be appointed by the Governor.  The task force shall also include five representatives to be chosen from among the following groups: health experts, medical experts, mold abatement experts, and affected industries, including but not limited to forest products, real estate agents, and residential, commercial and industrial tenants, proprietors, landlords, insurers and builders.  The task force may consult with other government agencies, both federal and state, as well as members of the scientific community and other consultants.

SECTION 3.  The task force shall submit a report, including any draft standards and regulations or an explanation of why such standards and regulations were not found to be feasible, to the Joint Committee on Health Care and the Joint Committee on Government Regulations within 6 months of the day that this act is passed into law.