SF 1299

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/26/2021 01:53pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing goals to reduce blood lead levels in Minnesota
children; requiring the commissioner of health to issue annual public reports;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144.9502, subdivision 1, by adding
subdivisions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144.9502, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Surveillance.

The commissioner of health shall establish a statewide
lead surveillance system. The purpose of this system is to:

(1) monitor blood lead levels in children and adults to identify trends and populations
at high risk for elevated blood lead levels;

(2) ensure that screening services are provided to populations at high risk for elevated
blood lead levels;

(3) ensure that medical and environmental follow-up services for children with elevated
blood lead levels are provided; and

(4) provide accurate and complete data for planning and implementing primary prevention
programs that focus on the populations at high risk for elevated blood lead levels new text begin and to
monitor the progress made toward meeting the goals established in subdivision 1a to reduce
the number of children in Minnesota with blood lead levels above 3.5 micrograms of lead
per deciliter of whole blood new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144.9502, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Goals to reduce blood lead levels in children; plan. new text end

new text begin (a) It is the goal of the
state to reduce the blood lead levels of children in Minnesota in the following manner:
new text end

new text begin (1) by January 1, 2023, no children in Minnesota shall have a blood lead level equal to
or greater than five micrograms of lead per deciliter of whole blood; and
new text end

new text begin (2) by January 1, 2025, no children in Minnesota shall have a blood lead level equal to
or greater than 3.5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of whole blood.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall establish a plan of comprehensive, coordinated, statewide
activities to achieve these goals. Based on this plan, the commissioner shall administer the
statewide lead surveillance system, primary and secondary prevention programs, and other
state programs and activities as necessary to ensure that these goals are met.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144.9502, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Annual public report on lead testing and lead exposure in children. new text end

new text begin By
March 1 of each year, the commissioner of health shall issue a public report on the extent
to which children in the state are tested for lead exposure and the number of children in the
state with blood lead levels equal to or greater than 3.5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of
whole blood. The report must include the number of children in the previous calendar year
with a reported diagnostic blood lead test result equal to or greater than five micrograms of
lead per deciliter of whole blood; the number of children in the previous calendar year with
a reported diagnostic blood lead test result equal to or greater than 3.5 micrograms but less
than five micrograms of lead per deciliter of whole blood; areas of the state, counties, or
cities in which these children are concentrated or located; any available information about
the sources of lead exposure for these children; and action steps being planned or
implemented by the commissioner, alone or in collaboration with local units of government,
to reduce blood lead levels in children in the state.
new text end