The Lead Line Replacement Act aims to enhance public health by establishing a comprehensive program for the replacement of lead service lines in Ohio. The bill allows various local entities, including townships and municipal corporations, to utilize specific sections of the Revised Code for the replacement and cost recovery of both lead and non-lead service lines. It introduces a drinking water assistance fund to provide financial and technical support for compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, emphasizing fiscal controls and accountability. The program mandates the identification and removal of all lead service lines within fifteen years, prioritizing replacements for low- and moderate-income customers and ensuring public awareness through educational initiatives.

Additionally, the bill requires public water systems to submit detailed lead service line replacement plans within three years of the adoption of new rules, including an inventory of service lines and a timeline for replacements. The environmental protection agency will oversee the verification of these plans and maintain a publicly accessible database for tracking replacements. The bill also grants public water system operators the right to enter properties for replacement purposes with prior notice and allows for customer reimbursement under certain conditions. It streamlines the legal framework by repealing existing sections of the Revised Code, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the lead service line replacement process.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 6109.01, 6109.22