SRC-JEC H.B. 3264 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3264 By: Hunter (Deuell) Health & Human Services 5/21/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, approximately one million American children potentially have excessive levels of lead in their blood. Without prevention or treatment, egregiously elevated blood lead levels can result in an impaired ability to think, concentrate, and learn. Some believe that by educating property owners on how to make their property lead-free or lead-safe and educating tenants about lead poisoning, the state can protect children and reduce the high costs of treating lead poisoning. H.B. 3264, titled the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, aims to prevent high lead levels in children by authorizing the Texas Board of Health to implement policies and procedures to promote the elimination of childhood lead poisoning in Texas. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Authorizes this Act to be known as the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. SECTION 2. (a) Provides that the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act represents an effort by this state to prioritize education, screening, and the overall prevention of childhood lead poisoning. Sets forth information about childhood lead poisoning. (b) Sets forth information about lead poisoning resulting from paint. (c) States that the incidence of childhood lead poisoning can be reduced substantially without significant additional cost to the state by creating appropriate incentives for property owners to make their properties lead-free or lead-safe and by targeting existing state resources. SECTION 3. Amends Section 88.001, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subdivision (12), to define "board" as the Texas Board of Health. SECTION 4. Amends Chapter 88, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 88.0025, as follows: Sec. 88.0025. CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION. (a) Authorizes the board to implement policies and procedures to promote the elimination of childhood lead poisoning within the state. Authorizes the board to adopt measures to: (1) significantly reduce the incidence of childhood lead poisoning throughout the state; (2) improve public awareness of lead safety issues and educate both property owners and tenants about practices that can reduce the incidence of lead poisoning; and (3) encourage the testing of children likely to suffer the consequences of lead poisoning so that prompt diagnosis and treatment and the prevention of harm are possible. [H.B. 3264 as drafted contains no further subsections for Section 88.0025.] SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2003.