SENATE DOCKET, NO. 987        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 882

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act studying the health effects of toxic mold..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health, in conjunction with the department of environmental protection, the division of occupational safety and the board of building regulations and standards, shall convene a task force to study the health effects of toxic mold and to recommend methods to protect the public from unsafe indoor exposure to toxic mold.  The task force’s study shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas: (a) current research, studies and findings regarding toxic molds and the health effects thereof, including but not limited to information available from the environmental protection agency and the centers for disease control; (b) current recommendations, based on scientific studies, regarding safe indoor exposure limits to toxic molds, including but not limited the recommendations put forth by the environmental protection agency and the centers for disease control; (c) potential alternative safe exposure limits for certain facilities, including but not limited to schools, hospitals, child care facilities and nursing homes; (d) other states efforts to address the health effects of toxic mold, including regulations and pending legislation; and (e) standards for safe indoor exposure limits and draft regulations for the establishment and enforcement of safe indoor exposure limits to toxic mold in public and private buildings in Massachusetts, including private residences.

SECTION 2.  The task force shall consist of up to 2 representatives from each of the following offices:  the department of public health, one of whom shall be from the bureau of environmental health assessment, the department of environmental protection, the division of cccupational safety, and the board of building regulations and standards;6 members of the legislature, 2 to be appointed by the president of the senate, 2 to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 1 to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate and one to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and one community liaison to be appointed by the Governor.  The task force shall also include five representatives to be chosen from among the following groups: health experts, medical experts, mold abatement experts, and affected industries, including but not limited to forest products, real estate agents, and residential, commercial and industrial tenants, proprietors, landlords, insurers and builders.  The task force may consult with other government agencies, both federal and state, as well as members of the scientific community and other consultants.

SECTION 3.  The task force shall submit a report, including any draft standards and regulations or an explanation of why such standards and regulations were not found to be feasible, to the joint committee on public health and the joint committee on consumer protection and professional licensure within 6 months following the passage of this act.