The Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday reported out Senate Bill 1270 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne), (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring universal lead testing for children (sponsor summary).

Senators John Yudichak and Lisa Baker worked together to introduce this bipartisan bill.

“By requiring lead testing for two of our most vulnerable populations, we are taking proactive preventative measures to combat the devastating health impacts that can occur when children and expectant mothers are exposed to lead,” said Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne). “Developing a more comprehensive lead assessment and remediation strategy in Pennsylvania has been one of my top legislative priorities, and it is my hope that we can continue to work on passing legislative policies that address the risks of lead exposure.”

“Lead exposure should be on every list of serious health concerns. Yet, it tends to receive attention only when there is an expose done or a notorious breakdown in preventive measures surfaces. The key is finding the sources of lead across our communities, remediating these situations, and determining who has been exposed. We must be prudent and purposeful to our approach and the priority we put on solutions,” said Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), the Majority Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee.

The bill now goes to the full Senate for action.

Based on the Department of Health’s most recent Childhood Lead Surveillance Annual Report, only 28 percent of Pennsylvania children under the age of two were screened for blood lead levels in 2015.

However, testimony presented at a recent public hearing of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee found all children may be at risk—based on exposure in their homes or relatives’ homes, in care and educational facilities, or in playgrounds, among other areas.

Recent discussions and research demonstrate that universal lead testing is a practical and effective protective measure to reduce instances of lead poisoning.

Similar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives as House Bill 666 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia).

Ten other states and Washington D.C. have already implemented similar laws, and it is important that we act to do the same. We hope you will join us in co-sponsoring this measure.

Senate Lead Task Force

In June of 2017 the Senate passed Senate Resolution 33 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) creating a bipartisan task force to investigate the scope of Pennsylvania’s lead exposure problem.  The Task Force report is due at the end of this year.

In October of 2017, the task force members were named and the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing in Luzerne County on the issue.

Gov. Wolf has also called for the universal testing of blood-lead levels in children.

In February of this year, Senators Yudichak and Baker held a roundtable in Wilkes-Barre on lead exposure and lead testing.

For more information on lead exposure, intervention and education, visit the Department of Health’s Lead Poisoning webpage.  For more information on lead in drinking water, visit DEP’s Lead In Drinking Water webpage.

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7428 or sending email to: lbaker@pasen.gov.  Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-8925 or sending email to: SenatorSchwank@pasenate.com.

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[Posted: Oct. 16, 2018]

10/22/2018