Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Donlon and Speight
SYNOPSIS
Revises statutory definition of elevated blood lead level.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning elevated blood lead levels and amending P.L.1995, c.328.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.1995, c.328 (C.26:2-137.3) is amended to read as follows:
2. As used in this act:
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health.
"Department" means the Department of Health.
"Elevated blood lead level" means a level of lead in the bloodstream that equals or exceeds [five] 3.5 micrograms per deciliter or other such amount as may be identified in the most recent recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that necessitates the undertaking of responsive action.
"Lead poisoning" means the poisoning of the bloodstream that results from prolonged exposure to lead or lead-based substances in water, paint, building materials, or the environment, and which causes uncorrectable developmental delay and decreased mental functioning capacity in children, and in severe cases, can lead to a child's premature death.
"Lead screening" means the application of a detection technique to measure a child's blood lead level and determine the extent of a child's recent exposure to lead.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.7, s.4)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill revises the statutory definition of elevated blood lead level. Under current law, elevated blood lead level is defined to mean a level of lead in the bloodstream that equals or exceeds five micrograms per deciliter. This bill revises the definition of elevated blood lead level to mean a level of lead in the bloodstream that equals or exceeds 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.