SENATE DOCKET, NO. 926        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1066

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven A. Baddour

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to air quality inspections in public buildings.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 926        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1066

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to air quality inspections in public buildings.

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

SECTION1.  Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 142M the following section:-

Section 142N. (a)  For the purpose of this section, “public building” shall mean a building owned by the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or a building occupied by state agency or by a municipality.

(b) An occupant or lessor of a public building, or an employee therein, may register a complaint with the department of public health that the air quality within such building poses a health risk to persons exposed to such air and such complaint shall set out the fact upon which such belief is based. 

(c)  As soon as is practicable after receipt of a complaint filed pursuant to this section, the department of public health shall initiate an investigation of any credible complaint which the department suspects or, based upon such facts should suspect, that a risk to the public health is posed by the air quality within such building.  Complaints relative to buildings regularly used by children, the elderly or persons in poor health shall be given priority over other complaints.

(d)  Whoever files a complaint pursuant to this section shall be provided a copy of the results of such investigation upon the conclusion of such investigation.

(e)  The department of public health shall take appropriate action in circumstances in which the department determines that indoor air quality presents an imminent threat to public health or safety, which may include closing such building,

(f)  The commissioner of public health shall annually file copies of the results of investigations conducted pursuant to this section with the secretary of health and human services not later than June 1.