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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 5, 2022 02:03 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Lisa Baker |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Requiring Child Lead Testing |
| Alerting Pennsylvanians to the hazards of lead exposure is the first step in protecting children from the health and developmental consequences. This past fall, you’ll recall we passed a bill on testing children for lead exposure. The measure received overwhelming support in both chambers and was signed into law as Act 150 of 2022. This session, a stronger effort must be made to make lead testing available for all children. By the time a child shows signs of exposure to lead, serious damage may have already occurred. My proposal would require a blood screening for lead exposure of all children by the age of two. If for whatever reason a child was not tested by this age, then efforts would be made for a test by the age of six. Based on the Department of Health’s most recent Childhood Lead Surveillance Annual Report, only 31% of Pennsylvania children under the age of two were screened for blood lead levels in 2020. Additionally, only 17% of children under the age of six have been tested. However, healthcare professionals believe that ALL children may be at risk—based on exposure in their family homes, in daycare and educational facilities, or on playgrounds, among other areas. Research demonstrates that universal lead testing is a practical and effective protective measure to reduce instances of lead poisoning. Accordingly, the legislation seeks to ensure that all children receive at least one test by age two, and all children and pregnant women with known, demonstrated risk factors as identified by health care professionals. I welcome your support in this effort to ensure all children in Pennsylvania are screened. Lead poisoning is preventable. Putting testing into law is the best preventive measure. Thank you. |
Introduced as SB514