Joint State Government Commission Seeking Members For Advisory Committee On Lead Exposure

The Joint State Government Commission has begun implementing Senate Resolution 33 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) that creates a Task Force On Lead Exposure and a Lead Exposure Advisory Committee to help the Task Force and the Commission.

The Commission is now accepting recommendations for members of the Advisory Committee which must be composed of--

-- 2 Medical professionals with recognized experience in pediatric care and lead poisoning;

-- 1 Parent of a child with elevated lead levels or an individual representing an association or organization with recognized experience in children’s health;

-- 1 individual representing municipal water authorities;

-- 1 individual representing rural water authorities;

-- 1 Individual representing a water utility regulated by the PUC that is incorporated in the Commonwealth;

-- 1 Representative of a county or municipal health department;

-- 1 Individual who is certified to remediate lead in the Commonwealth;

-- 1 Representative of an urban school district; and

-- 1 Representative of a rural school district.

Recommendations should be submitted to Yvonne Hursh at the Commission by sending email to: yhursh@legis.state.pa.us by September 1.

The Task Force and the Advisory Committee are required by the Resolution to--

-- Complete a comprehensive review and analysis of laws, regulations, policies and procedures of the Commonwealth and other states regarding an assessment of lead exposure as a public health concern;

-- An assessment of the age of this Commonwealth's housing stock, public housing units, water pipelines, school buildings and day-care facilities;

-- An assessment of the threat lead exposure poses to public health;

-- An assessment of the prevalence of lead in homes, schools, day-care centers and other places in which children spend a majority of their days;

-- An assessment of the Commonwealth's approach to lead testing, abatement and remediation and how it compares to other states; and

-- Recommend changes to State statutes, regulations, practices, policies and procedures 8 relating to lead testing, abatement and remediation.

The Resolution requires the Task Force to file a report to the Senate within 18 months of the establishment of the Advisory Committee.

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was prime sponsor of the Resolution which passed the Senate unanimously on June 6.

Click Here for a copy of the Resolution.