PRINTER'S NO. 2620
No. 2133 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY ALLEN, ARGALL, KREBS, BUNT, SATHER, TIGUE,
STABACK, CAWLEY, LAUGHLIN, MIHALICH, SANTONI, MILLER, KING,
PETRARCA, SERAFINI, NYCE, WOZNIAK, MUNDY AND ARMSTRONG,
OCTOBER 6, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, OCTOBER 6, 1993
AN ACT
1 Providing for a Statewide program to screen children for lead
2 poisoning.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Legislative intent.
6 (a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
7 follows:
8 (1) There is new evidence from the Centers for Disease
9 Control that lead is harmful at blood levels previously
10 considered to be safe.
11 (2) It is estimated that as many as four million
12 children in this country six months of age or older and five
13 years of age or younger have toxic levels of lead in their
14 blood. Millions more are at risk. Without treatment,
15 permanent damage to the nervous system can result, including
16 learning disabilities and stunting of growth.
17 (3) Lead is considered the number one environmental
1 health threat to our children. Children nine months of age or
2 older and 12 months of age or younger are most vulnerable and
3 if tested have an excellent chance of avoiding the serious
4 consequences of lead poisoning.
5 (b) Intent.--It is the intent of the General Assembly to
6 identify those children in order that steps can be taken to
7 remove the environmental hazards and permit them to lead healthy
8 normal lives.
9 Section 2. Definitions.
10 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12 context clearly indicates otherwise:
13 "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
14 "Lead poisoning." The presence in the blood stream of levels
15 of lead determined by the Center for Disease Control to be in
16 excess of safe levels.
17 Section 3. Establishment of program.
18 (a) Testing.--All children six months of age or older and
19 five years of age or younger shall be tested for lead poisoning.
20 Parents and guardians should be encouraged to have children
21 tested nine months of age or older and 12 months of age or
22 younger. All children not covered for these tests by an existing
23 program, i.e., Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment
24 (E.P.S.D.T.), medical assistance or department screening in high
25 risk areas shall be tested at parent's expense or by private
26 insurance if coverage is available.
27 (b) Standards.--
28 (1) All E.P.S.D.T. testing shall include testing of
29 children six months of age or older and five years of age or
30 younger. If possible, testing should be done nine months of
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1 age or older and 12 months of age or younger.
2 (2) For families not able to afford the testing, it will
3 be offered by the department.
4 (3) The department may establish financial eligibility
5 criteria for individuals receiving testing.
6 (4) All positive tests for lead poisoning will be
7 referred to the department for site investigation, case
8 management and other action deemed appropriate by the
9 Secretary of Health.
10 Section 4. Education.
11 The department shall develop an education and public
12 awareness program to alert the public to the Centers for Disease
13 Control's current guidelines, the danger and consequences of
14 lead poisoning and steps to take for prevention and treatment.
15 Section 5. Effective date.
16 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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