* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Curran
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
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In Support of State Legislation - Senate Bill 840/House Bill 1033 - Environment - Reducing Lead Risk in Housing - Lead Paint Dust Testing
FOR the purpose of expressing support for this legislation that alters the requirements for certain property owners to satisfy certain lead risk reduction standards to ensure that the dangers of lead-based paint exposure are eliminated; respectfully urging the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and Honorable Chair and Members of the House Environmental Matters Committee to give the bills a favorable report; requesting the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2011 Maryland General Assembly to work to secure passage of the measure; and calling upon the Governor to sign the measure into law.
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Recitals
The proposed legislation changes the requirements for how an owner of a pre-1950 property may comply with lead risk reduction standards. The bill would require a property owner to preform both a dust test and a series of lead hazard reduction treatments with a visual inspection when a change in occupancy occurs, the tenant issues a notice of defect, or an elevated blood lead level is reported. The bill also requires that leaded or untested window wells be encapsulated, that repairs to be consistent with local fire codes, and for the repainting, replacing or encapsulating of leaded or untested window sills.
The Maryland Department of the Environment's 2009 Lead Poisoning Data, released last year, show that in 2009, 347 children - or 1.8 % of 19,043 children tested in Baltimore City - had elevated blood lead levels. This represents a 26% decrease from the number of children with elevated blood levels in 2008. Over a decade, the number of children with elevated blood lead levels had fallen from 2,189 to 347 - a decrease of 84%.
Commenting on the statistics released by the Department, the Baltimore City Health Commissioner said that while the City is happy about the continuing decline in Baltimore City lead exposures, we need to emphasize how important it is that all 1- and 2- year - old children continue to be tested. It is estimated that tens of thousands of homes built before 1978 still have lead hazards.
Initially, the law gave the option of a dust test or a visual inspection to meet the law's requirement for risk reduction. Passage of this legislation that requires a dust test, in addition to other lead risk reduction treatments, will support Baltimore City's goal of totally eliminating childhood lead poisoning in the early 21st century.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body supports this legislation that alters the requirements for certain property owners to satisfy certain lead risk reduction standards to ensure that the dangers of lead-based paint exposure are eliminated; respectfully urges the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Environmental Matters Committee to give the bills a favorable report; requests the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2011 Maryland General Assembly to work to secure passage of the measure; and calls upon the Governor to sign the measure into law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Governor, the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Environmental Matters Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2011 Maryland General Assembly, and Baltimore Health Commissioner, the Director of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
dlr 11-2372~intro/03Mar11
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dlr 11-2372~intro/03Mar11
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ccres/HB1033/nf