1999 Wisconsin Act 113

(a) Twenty or more micrograms per 100 milliliters of blood, as confirmed by one venous blood test.

(b) Fifteen or more micrograms per 100 milliliters of blood, as confirmed by 2 venous blood tests that are performed at least 90 days apart.

113,6 Section 6. 254.11 (8d) of the statutes is created to read:

254.11 (8d) "Lead-bearing paint hazard" has the meaning specified by rule by the department.

113,7 Section 7. 254.11 (8s) of the statutes is created to read:

254.11 (8s) "Lead investigation" means a measure or set of measures designed to identify the presence of lead or lead hazards, including examination of painted or varnished surfaces, paint, dust, water and other environmental media.

113,8 Section 8. 254.11 (9g) of the statutes is created to read:

254.11 (9g) "Lead risk assessor" has the meaning specified by rule by the department.

113,9 Section 9. 254.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

254.15 (1) Develop and implement a comprehensive statewide lead poisoning or lead exposure prevention and treatment program that includes lead poisoning or lead exposure prevention grants under s. 254.151; any childhood lead poisoning screening requirement under rules promulgated under ss. 254.158 and 254.162; any requirements regarding care coordination and follow-up for children with lead poisoning or lead exposure required under rules promulgated under s. 254.164; departmental responses to reports of lead poisoning or lead exposure under s. 254.166; any lead inspection investigation requirements under rules promulgated under ss. 254.167,; any lead inspection requirements under rules promulgated under 254.168 and 254.17; any lead hazard reduction requirements under rules promulgated under s. 254.172; and certification, accreditation and approval requirements under ss. 254.176 and 254.178; any certification requirements and procedures under rules promulgated under s. 254.179; and any fees imposed under s. 254.181.

113,10 Section 10. 254.154 of the statutes is amended to read:

254.154 Local authority. This subchapter does not prohibit any city, village, town or other political subdivision from enacting and enforcing ordinances establishing a system of lead poisoning or lead exposure control that provides the same or higher standards than those set forth in this subchapter. Nothing in this subchapter other than s. 254.173 (2) and (3) may be interpreted or applied in any manner to impair the right of any person, entity, municipality or other political subdivision to sue for damages or equitable relief or to restrain a violation of such an ordinance. Nothing in this subchapter may be interpreted or applied in any manner to impair the right of a municipality or other political subdivision to impose a penalty for or restrain the violation of an ordinance specified in this section.

113,10b Section 10b. 254.154 of the statutes, as affected by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

254.154 Local authority. This subchapter does not prohibit any city, village, town or other political subdivision from enacting and enforcing ordinances establishing a system of lead poisoning or lead exposure control that provides the same or higher standards than those set forth in this subchapter. Nothing in this subchapter other than s. 254.173 (2) and (3) may be interpreted or applied in any manner to impair the right of any person, entity, municipality or other political subdivision to sue for damages or equitable relief. Nothing in this subchapter may be interpreted or applied in any manner to impair the right of a municipality or other political subdivision to impose a penalty for or restrain the violation of an ordinance specified in this section.

113,10c Section 10c. 254.154 of the statutes, as affected by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 10b, is repealed and recreated to read:

254.154 Local authority. This subchapter does not prohibit any city, village, town or other political subdivision from enacting and enforcing ordinances establishing a system of lead poisoning or lead exposure control that provides the same or higher standards than those set forth in this subchapter. Nothing in this subchapter may be interpreted or applied in any manner to impair the right of any person, entity, municipality or other political subdivision to sue for damages or equitable relief. Nothing in this subchapter may be interpreted or applied in any manner to impair the right of a municipality or other political subdivision to impose a penalty for or restrain the violation of an ordinance specified in this section.

113,11 Section 11. 254.166 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

254.166 (1) The department may, after being notified that an occupant of a dwelling or premises who is under 6 years of age has blood lead poisoning or lead exposure, present official credentials to the owner or occupant of the dwelling or premises, or to a representative of the owner, and request admission to conduct a lead inspection investigation of the dwelling or premises. If the department is notified that an occupant of a dwelling or premises who is a child under 6 years of age has an elevated blood lead level, the department shall conduct a lead investigation of the dwelling or premises or ensure that a lead investigation of the dwelling or premises is conducted. The lead inspection investigation shall be conducted during business hours, unless the owner or occupant of the dwelling or premises consents to an inspection investigation during nonbusiness hours or unless the department determines that the dwelling or premises presents an imminent lead hazard. The department shall use reasonable efforts to provide prior notice of the lead inspection investigation to the owner of the dwelling or premises. The department may remove samples or objects necessary for laboratory analysis to determine the presence of a lead hazard in the dwelling or premises. The department shall prepare and file written reports of all inspections lead investigations conducted under this section and shall make the contents of these reports available for inspection by the public, except for medical information, which may be disclosed only to the extent that patient health care records may be disclosed under ss. 146.82 to 146.835. If the owner or occupant refuses admission, the department may seek a warrant to inspect investigate the dwelling or premises. The warrant shall advise the owner or occupant of the scope of the inspection lead investigation.

113,12 Section 12. 254.166 (2) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 254.166 (2) (c) (intro.) and amended to read:

254.166 (2) (c) (intro.) Notify the occupant of the dwelling or premises or that person's the occupant's representative that of all of the following:

1. That a lead hazard is present on or in the dwelling or premises and may constitute a health hazard.

113,13 Section 13. 254.166 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

254.166 (2) (c) 2. The results of any lead investigations conducted on or in the dwelling or premises.

113,14 Section 14. 254.166 (2) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

254.166 (2) (c) 3. Any actions taken to reduce or eliminate the lead hazard.

113,15 Section 15. 254.166 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

254.166 (2) (e) If an order is issued under par. (d), conduct or require a certified lead risk assessor or other person certified under s. 254.176 to conduct a lead investigation, a check of work completed and dust tests for the presence of hazardous levels of lead to ensure compliance with the order.

113,16 Section 16. 254.167 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

254.167 Conduct of lead inspection investigation. (intro.) Subject to the limitation under s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules establishing procedures for conducting lead inspections investigations of dwellings and premises. Any rules promulgated under this section shall meet, but not exceed, any requirements under regulations promulgated by the administrator of the federal environmental protection agency under section 402 of the federal toxic substances control act, as created by section 1021 of P.L. 102-550. The rules promulgated under this section may include the following:

113,17 Section 17. 254.167 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

254.167 (1) Specific procedures for inspecting investigating, testing or sampling painted, varnished or other finished surfaces, drinking water, household dust, soil and other materials that may contain lead.

113,18 Section 18. 254.167 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

254.167 (2) Specific procedures for the notification of owners, operators, occupants or prospective occupants, mortgagees and lienholders of lead levels identified during an inspection a lead investigation and of any health risks that are associated with the lead level and condition of the lead found during the inspection lead investigation.

113,19 Section 19. 254.167 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

254.167 (3) The form of lead inspection investigation reports, the requirements for filing the reports with the department and the procedures by which members of the public may obtain copies of inspection lead investigation reports.

113,20 Section 20. 254.17 of the statutes is repealed.

113,21 Section 21. 254.171 of the statutes is created to read:

254.171 Dwellings and units of dwellings where child has elevated blood lead level. If an owner of a dwelling or unit of a dwelling receives written notice from the department or a local health department that a child under 6 years of age, who resides in the owner's owner-occupied dwelling or unit or who resides in the owner's dwelling or unit under the terms of a rental agreement, has an elevated blood lead level, the owner shall obtain a certificate of lead-free status or certificate of lead-safe status for the affected dwelling or unit in a timely manner, based on the reasonable availability of lead risk assessors or other persons certified under s. 254.176 to conduct any necessary lead investigation or lead hazard reduction activities and based on the time required for issuance of a certificate of lead-free status or a certificate of lead-safe status. A certificate of lead-safe status obtained under this section may not be for less than 12 months in duration. Nothing in this section precludes the department or the department's agent from conducting a lead investigation or issuing an order under s. 254.166.

113,22 Section 22. 254.172 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

254.172 Prevention and control of lead-bearing paint hazards in dwellings and premises. (1) Subject to the limitation under s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules governing lead hazard reduction that the department determines are consistent with federal law.

(2) If a certified lead risk assessor or other person certified under s. 254.176 conducts a lead investigation of a dwelling or premises, he or she shall conduct the lead investigation and issue a report in accordance with any rules promulgated under s. 254.167. If the report indicates that the dwelling or premises meets criteria under s. 254.179 (1) (a) for issuance of a certificate of lead-free or of a certificate of lead-safe status, the lead risk assessor or other person shall issue the appropriate certificate, subject to s. 254.181.

113,23 Section 23. 254.173 of the statutes is created to read:

254.173 Immunity from liability for lead poisoning or lead exposure; restrictions. (1) Legislative findings and purpose. (a) The legislature finds all of the following:

1. That a national task force appointed by the federal department of housing and urban development, the task force on lead-based paint hazard reduction and financing, found that 1,700,000 children under 6 years of age have blood lead levels at or above the federally established level of concern. The task force also found that the most common cause of childhood lead poisoning is ingestion of lead-contaminated dust and chips from lead-bearing paint. The other significant cause is dust from bare lead-contaminated soil.

2. That high levels of lead in a child's blood can cause permanent nervous system damage and even relatively low blood lead levels can cause significant nervous system effects. Of 58,797 children who were screened in this state in fiscal year 1995-96, 11,170, or 19%, were newly identified as having blood lead levels that constitute lead poisoning or lead exposure.

(b) The legislature encourages property owners to address the problems associated with lead-bearing paint by bringing their property into compliance with the applicable state standards and finds that an appropriate method to so encourage property owners is to hold them not liable with respect to a person who develops lead poisoning or lead exposure in the property. The purpose of these standards and this restriction on liability is to reduce the exposure of children and others to lead-bearing paints, thereby substantially reducing the number of persons who develop lead poisoning or lead exposure. In addition, these standards and this restriction on liability will improve the quality of this state's housing stock and result in greater availability of insurance coverage for lead hazards.

(2) Immunity; conditions; restrictions. An owner of a dwelling or unit of a dwelling and his or her employes and agents are immune from civil and criminal liability and may not be subject to an agency proceeding under ch. 227, other than for the enforcement of rules promulgated by the department under this subchapter, for their acts or omissions related to lead poisoning or lead exposure of a person who resides in or has visited the dwelling or unit if, at the time that the lead poisoning or lead exposure occurred, a certificate of lead-free status or a certificate of lead-safe status was in effect for the dwelling or unit. This subsection does not apply if it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that one of the following has occurred:

(a) The owner or his or her employe or agent obtained the certificate by fraud.

(b) The owner or his or her employe or agent violated a condition of the certificate.

(c) During renovation, remodeling, maintenance or repair after receiving the certificate, the owner or his or her employe or agent created a lead-bearing paint hazard that was present in the dwelling or unit of the dwelling at the time that the lead poisoning or lead exposure occurred.

(d) The owner or his or her employe or agent failed to respond in a timely manner to notification by a tenant, by the department or by a local health department that a lead-bearing paint hazard might be present.

(e) The lead poisoning or lead exposure was caused by a source of lead in the dwelling or unit of the dwelling other than lead-bearing paint.

(3) Temporary immunity; exception. (a) An owner of a dwelling or unit of a dwelling and his or her employes and agents are immune from civil and criminal liability and may not be subject to an agency proceeding under ch. 227, other than for the enforcement of rules promulgated by the department under this subchapter, for their acts or omissions related to lead poisoning or lead exposure that occur during the first 60 days after the owner acquires the dwelling or unit, except that this subsection does not apply to lead poisoning or lead exposure that results from a lead-bearing paint hazard created by the owner or his or her employe or agent.

(b) Immunity under par. (a) applies only if all of the following occur:

1. The owner obtains a certificate of lead-free status or a certificate of lead-safe status for the dwelling or unit.

2. The owner shows by clear and convincing evidence that the property was in compliance with the standard to obtain a certificate of lead-free status or a certificate of lead-safe status by the end of the 60-day period and that the owner obtained the certificate in a reasonable amount of time following the owner's acts to achieve compliance.

(c) Immunity does not apply under this subsection if, during the 60-day period under par. (a), one of the following applies:

1. The owner receives an order under s. 254.166 (2) (d) and fails to comply with the order.

2. The dwelling or unit is vacant and the owner fails to comply with interim lead hazard control measures specified by the department by rule.

113,23c Section 23c. 254.173 (title), (1) and (2) of the statutes, as created by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), are repealed.

113,23d Section 23d. 254.173 (3) of the statutes, as created by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

113,24 Section 24. 254.174 of the statutes is amended to read:

254.174 Technical advisory committees. Before the department may promulgate rules under s. 254.167, 254.168, 254.17 or 254.172 or 254.179, the department shall appoint a technical advisory committee under s. 227.13 and shall consult with the technical advisory committee on the proposed rules. Any technical advisory committee required under this section shall include representatives from local health departments that administer local lead programs, representatives from the housing industry, persons certified under s. 254.176 and, representatives from the medical or public health professions, advocates for persons at risk of lead poisoning and a resident of a 1st class city. Any technical advisory committee required under this section before promulgating rules under s. 254.168 shall also include representatives of facilities serving children under 6 years of age.

113,25 Section 25. 254.176 (3) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

113,26 Section 26. 254.178 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

113,27 Section 27. 254.179 of the statutes is created to read:

254.179 Rules for dwellings and premises. (1) Subject to s. 254.174 and after review of ordinances of cities, towns and villages in this state, the department shall, by use of a research-based methodology, promulgate as rules all of the following:

(a) Except as provided in s. 254.18, the standards for a premises, dwelling or unit of a dwelling that must be met for issuance of a certificate of lead-free status or a certificate of lead-safe status to the owner of the premises, dwelling or unit of a dwelling, with the goal of long-term lead hazard reduction.

(b) The procedures by which a certificate of lead-free status or a certificate of lead-safe status may be issued or revoked.

(c) The period of validity of a certificate of lead-free status or a certificate of lead-safe status, including all of the following:

1. Authorization for the certificate of lead-free status to remain in effect unless revoked because of erroneous issuance or because the premises, dwelling or unit of the dwelling is not free of lead-bearing paint. The rules shall specify that the face of the certificate shall indicate that the certificate is valid unless revoked.

2. The standards limiting the length of validity of a certificate of lead-safe status, including the condition of a premises, dwelling or unit of a dwelling, the type of lead hazard reduction activity that was performed, if any, and any other requirements that must be met to maintain certification, unless the certificate is earlier revoked because of erroneous issuance or because the premises, dwelling or unit of the dwelling is not safe from lead-bearing paint hazards. The rules shall specify that the face of the certificate shall indicate the certificate's length of validity. The rules shall further specify that applications for certificates of lead-safe status for identical premises may be made only as follows:

a. A person may apply for no more than 2 successive certificates of lead-safe status that have a duration of less than 12 months and, if again applying for a certificate of lead-safe status, shall apply for a certificate that has a duration of 12 months or more.

b. A person to whom subd. 2. a. applies shall, if applying for a certificate of lead-safe status that is additional to the certificates specified in subd. 2. a. and that has a duration of less than 12 months, provide the department with a reason for the necessity for issuance of a certificate of that duration.

c. A person to whom subd. 2. a. and b. applies shall, if applying for a certificate of lead-safe status that is additional to the certificates specified in subd. 2. a. and b. and that has a duration of less than 12 months, provide the department with clear and convincing evidence of the necessity for issuance of a certificate of that duration.

(d) A mechanism for creating a registry of all premises, dwellings or units of dwellings for which a certificate of lead-free status or a certificate of lead-safe status is issued.

(e) The requirements for a course of up to 16 hours that a property owner or his or her employe or agent may complete in order to receive certification of completion and the scope of the lead investigation and lead hazard reduction activities that the owner, employe or agent may perform following certification, to the extent consistent with federal law.

(f) The interim lead hazard control measures under s. 254.173 (3) (c) 2.

(2) By January 1, 2003, and every 2 years thereafter, the department shall review the rules under sub. (1) and shall promulgate changes to the rules if necessary in order to maintain consistency with federal law.

(3) Subject to s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules that set forth safe work practices that shall be followed in the demolition of a building constructed before January 1, 1978, to avoid exposure by persons to lead hazards in the area of the demolition.

113,28 Section 28. 254.18 of the statutes is created to read:

254.18 Lead hazard reduction in dwellings and premises. Sampling or testing of dwellings, units of dwellings or premises for the presence of lead-bearing paint or a lead hazard is not required before lead hazard reduction activities are conducted if the presence of lead-bearing paint or a lead hazard is assumed and the lead hazard reduction activities are performed in a lead-safe manner.

113,29 Section 29. 254.181 of the statutes is created to read:

254.181 Certificate of lead-free status and certificate of lead-safe status; fees and notification. (1) The department may impose a fee of $50 for issuance of a certificate of lead-free status and a fee of $25 for issuance of a certificate of lead-safe status. Fees under this section may not exceed actual costs of issuance and of maintaining the registry under s. 254.179 (1) (d). The department shall review the fees every 2 years and adjust the fees to reflect the actual costs.

(2) The department shall, at least quarterly, notify a local health department concerning issuance of certificates of lead-free status and certificates of lead-safe status in the area of jurisdiction of the local health department.

113,30 Section 30. 254.182 of the statutes is created to read:

254.182 Repayment to general fund. The secretary of administration shall transfer from the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (gm) to the general fund the amount of $735,000 when the secretary of administration determines that program revenues from fees imposed under ss. 254.176 (3) (e) and (4), 254.178 (2) (d) and 254.181 are sufficient to make the transfer.

113,31 Section 31. 901.055 of the statutes is created to read:

901.055 Admissibility of results of dust testing for the presence of lead. The results of a test for the presence of lead in dust are not admissible during the course of a civil or criminal action or proceeding or an administrative proceeding unless the test was conducted by a person certified for this purpose by the department of health and family services.