Saturday, June 27, 2015

$10M for lead poisoning OKed by NJ Senate


Protecting more children from lead poisoning came closer to reality Thursday after the state Senate voted to provide $10 million to the state's depleted lead health fund following an Asbury Park Press investigation.

The Senate voted 28-9 to approve the bill (S-1279) to help restore New Jersey's long-drained Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund. The fund was created in 2004 to curb lead paint hazards in homes, relocate families with lead-poisoned children, promote public education and training and support other public health activities.

The Assembly and governor still need to approve the measure for it to be added to the state budget.

"It sounds very good, very encouraging and very helpful for our most vulnerable population in the state," said David A. Henry, health officer at Monmouth County Regional Health Commission No. 1, which covers 21 towns.

"This bill will go to help families, primarily, and then secondarily it should be of some good use to local health departments as well in regard to paying for ... certifying the lead (testing) equipment," said Henry, who is legislative chair of the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials. The group supports the lead fund bill.


Since 2000, more than 220,000 young kids in New Jersey have had high levels of lead, a potent poison that can cause a lifetime of learning and behavioral problems, according to state data obtained exclusively by the Press. But since 2004, state leaders diverted more than $50 million from efforts to prevent lead poisoning, the Press found in an investigative story published in January.
The diversions — to help pay state bills — took place under Gov. Chris Christie and other governors. The $10 million would go into lead fund in fiscal 2015, which ends on Tuesday. The Department of Community Affairs oversees the fund.


The $10 million bill is sponsored by state Sen. Ronald L. Rice, D-Essex, Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, and Sen. Brian P. Stack, D-Hudson.

Three years ago, the Senate voted (24-9) to approve legislation (S-2128) that would have pumped $10 million into the lead fund. But the bill died in the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.


Lead poisoning is fully preventable. Sources of lead, a highly toxic metal that damages the brain, include deteriorating lead paint, contaminated dust and soil, tainted water, home remedies, toys, cosmetics and even some Mexican candies, according to experts.

Lead poisoning can cause numerous health and other problems. It can lead to anti-social behavior and underemployment — even prison time, experts say. Impoverished, largely minority children who live in older homes and rentals in urban areas are typically at greatest risk from lead.

Each year, the lead fund is supposed to get $7 million to $14 million in tax revenues from the sales of paint and other coatings. But the fund got the minimum due in only one year — 2006 — and Christie's administration has not provided any paint tax proceeds since 2011, according to the state Office of Legislative Services, an arm of the Legislature.

Henry, of Monmouth County Regional Health Commission No. 1, said "we will continue to keep a watchful eye as (the) bill goes to the next step in the process."
Source:http://www.app.com