No funds for tough mold bill?

January 18, 2002

' budget plan seems to lack money for Ortiz's measure.

By LePage -- Bee Staff Writer

Published 3:40 a.m. PST Friday, Jan. 11, 2002

Early reviews of Gov. Gray ' proposed state budget suggest there's zero

funding to implement a state Senate bill he touted as offering California

" the toughest toxic mold standards in the nation. "

The bill, SB 732, known as the " Toxic Mold Protection Act of 2001, " is being

watched closely across the nation as the boldest effort yet to move toward

government regulation of mold in homes and workplaces.

The legislation's author, state Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, said her

staff had not found a specific reference to the funding to enact the bill's

directives. She acknowledged that, given the state's difficult financial

position, funding might be delayed for a year or so, though she remained

hopeful.

Ortiz said the lack of a specific reference to funding " doesn't necessarily

mean they (the state Department of Health Services) aren't going to

implement it. My hope is that there's a commitment to find a way to fund

this. "

The governor's proposal is the first step in the budget process in which the

Legislature is supposed to pass a new budget by the end of this fiscal year,

June 30.

DHS officials said they also found no evidence of funding for SB 732 in the

governor's plan.

The bill directs DHS to determine the feasibility of devising permissible

exposure limits and standards for the assessment, identification and

remediation of indoor mold contamination.

DHS is also supposed to convene a mold task force, to include health

experts, scientists, doctors and real estate and insurance industry

representatives, among others.

DHS officials have estimated that convening the task force and carrying out

the bill's directives would cost $400,000 during the current budget year --

money they say does not exist -- and $700,000 annually for the following two

to three budget years.

About the Writer:

The Bee's LePage can be reached at (916) 321-1065 or

alepage@... .

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