254.12 History
History: 1979 c. 221;
1993 a. 16;
1993 a. 27 s.
431; Stats. 1993 s. 254.12;
1993 a. 450.
254.13
254.13
Reporting requirements. 254.13(1)
(1) Every physician who diagnoses lead poisoning or lead exposure, or any nurse, hospital administrator, director of a clinical laboratory or local health officer who has verified information of the existence of any person found or suspected to have lead poisoning or lead exposure, shall report to the department or to the local health officer of the region in which the person resides within 48 hours after verifying this information. The local health officer shall report to the department the name, address, laboratory results, date of birth and any other information about the person that the department considers essential. Any physician, nurse, hospital administrator, director of a clinical laboratory, local health officer or allied health professional making such a report in good faith shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred from making the report.
254.13(2)
(2) A person who screens a child under 6 years of age for lead poisoning or lead exposure under this subchapter, or any rule promulgated under this subchapter, shall report the results of the screening to the department within the time period for reporting by rule. The department shall promulgate rules specifying the form of the reports required under this subsection. A person making a report under this subsection in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred from making the report.
254.13 History
History: 1979 c. 221;
1989 a. 31;
1993 a. 27 s.
432; Stats. 1993 s. 254.13;
1993 a. 450.
254.15
254.15
Departmental duties. The department shall:
254.15(1)
(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 requirements under rules promulgated under
ss. 254.167,
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.
254.15(2)
(2) Provide laboratory testing of biological and environmental lead specimens for lead content to any physician, hospital, clinic, municipality or private organization that cannot secure or provide testing through other sources. The department may not assume responsibility for blood lead analysis required in programs in operation on April 30, 1980.
254.15(3)
(3) Develop or encourage the development of appropriate programs and studies to identify sources of lead poisoning or lead exposure, and assist other entities in the identification of lead in children's blood and of the sources of the lead poisoning or lead exposure.
254.15(4)
(4) Provide technical assistance and consultation to local, county or regional governmental or private agencies to promote and develop lead poisoning or lead exposure prevention programs that afford opportunities for employing residents of communities and neighborhoods affected by lead poisoning or lead exposure from lead-bearing paint, and that provide appropriate training, education and information to inform these residents of the opportunities for employment.
254.15(5)
(5) Provide recommendations for the identification and treatment of lead poisoning or lead exposure.
254.15(6)
(6) Develop educational programs to communicate to parents, educators and officials of local boards of health the health danger of lead poisoning or lead exposure from lead-bearing paint among children.
254.151
254.151
Lead poisoning or lead exposure prevention grants. From the appropriation under
s. 20.435 (1) (ef), the department shall award the following grants under criteria that the department shall establish in rules promulgated under this section:
254.151(1)
(1) To fund educational programs about the dangers of lead poisoning or lead exposure.
254.151(2)
(2) To fund lead poisoning or lead exposure screening, care coordination and follow-up services, including lead inspections, to children under age 6 who are not covered by a 3rd-party payer.
254.151(3)
(3) To fund administration or enforcement of responsibilities delegated under
s. 254.152.
254.151(4)
(4) To fund other activities related to lead poisoning or lead exposure.
254.151(6)
(6) To develop and implement outreach and education programs for health care providers to inform them of the need for lead poisoning or lead exposure screening and of the requirements of this subchapter relating to lead poisoning or lead exposure.
254.151 History
History: 1993 a. 450;
1995 a. 27.
254.152
254.152
Delegation to local health departments. Except with respect to the department's authority to promulgate rules under this chapter, the department may designate local health departments as its agents in administering and enforcing
ss. 254.11 to
254.178 and any rules promulgated under those sections. The department may not designate a local health department as its agent unless the department provides a grant that the department determines to be sufficient for the local health department to carry out any responsibilities as an agent designated under this section.
254.152 History
History: 1993 a. 450.
254.154
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 or to restrain a violation of such an ordinance.
254.154 History
History: 1979 c. 221;
1989 a. 31;
1993 a. 27 s.
436; Stats. 1993 s. 254.16;
1993 a. 450 s.
48; Stats. 1993 s. 254.154.
254.156
254.156
Definition of lead-bearing paint and lead poisoning or lead exposure. Notwithstanding
s. 254.11 (intro.),
(8) and
(9), whenever the centers for disease control and prevention of the federal department of health and human services specifies a standard for the determination of lead-bearing paint or lead poisoning or lead exposure that differs from that specified in
s. 254.11 (8) or
(9), the department shall promulgate a rule defining "lead-bearing paint" or "lead poisoning or lead exposure" to correspond to the specification of the centers for disease control and prevention. Rules promulgated under this section supersede
s. 254.11 (8) and
(9) with respect to the requirements of this subchapter.
254.156 History
History: 1993 a. 450.
254.158
254.158
Screening recommendations. The department may promulgate rules specifying recommended lead poisoning or lead exposure screening methods and intervals for children under 6 years of age. Any rules promulgated under this section:
254.158(1)
(1) Shall meet any federal requirements for the screening of children under 6 years of age.
254.158(1m)
(1m) May include an appropriate questionnaire regarding potential exposure to lead and products containing lead.
254.158(2)
(2) Shall permit at least the following persons to provide screening services:
254.158(2)(a)
(a) A person licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy under
ch. 448.
254.158(3)
(3) Shall exempt a child from the lead screening recommendations if the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian signs a written waiver objecting to the lead poisoning screening for reasons of health, religion or personal conviction.
254.158(4)
(4) Shall exempt a child from the lead poisoning screening recommendations if the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian presents written evidence of a lead screening that was conducted within the previous 6 months, or other time period specified by the department by rule, and that was conducted in accordance with the laws or rules of another state whose laws or rules the department determines to be at least as stringent as the screening methods and intervals recommended under this section.
254.158 History
History: 1993 a. 450.
254.162
254.162
Screening requirements. 254.162(1)
(1)
Institutions and programs providing services to children under 6 years of age. The department may promulgate rules requiring the following institutions and programs to obtain written evidence that each child under 6 years of age participating in the institution or program has obtained a lead screening, or is exempt from obtaining one, under the recommended lead screening levels and intervals contained in the rules promulgated by the department under
s. 254.158, within the time periods specified by the department:
254.162(1)(c)
(c) Day care providers certified under
s. 48.651 and day care centers licensed under
s. 48.65, provisionally licensed under
s. 48.69 or established or contracted for under
s. 120.13 (14).
254.162(1)(d)
(d) School-based programs serving children under 6 years of age, including kindergartens, programs for children with exceptional educational needs and other early childhood programs.
254.162(1)(e)
(e) Health care programs that provide services to children under 6 years of age and that receive state funding.
254.162(1)(f)
(f) Other institutions or programs that provide services to children under 6 years of age.
254.162(2)
(2) Information requirement. If a program or institution is required to request written evidence of a lead screening under rules promulgated under
sub. (1), the institution or program shall, at the time that it makes the request, inform the parent, guardian or legal custodian of the child in writing, in a manner that is prescribed by the department by rule, of the importance of lead screening, of how and where the lead screening may be obtained, and of the conditions under which a child is exempt from the recommended lead screening requirements under the department's rules.
254.162 History
History: 1993 a. 450.
254.164
254.164
Care for children with lead poisoning or lead exposure. The department may promulgate rules establishing standards for the care coordination and follow-up of children under 6 years of age with lead poisoning or lead exposure. Any rules promulgated under this section shall meet any federal requirements for the care coordination and follow-up of children under 6 years of age with elevated blood lead levels. Rules promulgated under this subsection may specify different care coordination and follow-up requirements based on different blood lead levels and may, where appropriate, require that the care coordination and follow-up include any of the following:
254.164(1)
(1) Physical, developmental and nutritional assessment.
254.164(4)
(4) A lead inspection of all or part of the child's dwelling or other dwellings or premises that may have contributed to the child's lead poisoning or lead exposure.
254.164(5)
(5) Assistance in developing a plan for lead hazard reduction or other actions needed to reduce exposure to lead and the consequences of such exposure.
254.164(6)
(6) Where necessary, assistance in obtaining permanent or temporary lead-safe housing.
254.164(8)
(8) Follow-up services, including monitoring the provision of services to the child.
254.164 History
History: 1993 a. 450.
254.166
254.166
Departmental response to reports of lead poisoning or lead exposure. 254.166(1)
(1) The department may, after being notified that an occupant of a dwelling 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 of the dwelling or premises. The lead inspection shall be conducted during business hours, unless the owner or occupant of the dwelling or premises consents to an inspection 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 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 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 the dwelling or premises. The warrant shall advise the owner or occupant of the scope of the inspection.
254.166(2)
(2) If the department determines that a lead hazard is present in any dwelling or premises, the department may do any of the following:
254.166(2)(a)
(a) Cause to be posted in a conspicuous place upon the dwelling or premises a notice of the presence of a lead hazard.
254.166(2)(b)
(b) Inform the local health officer of the results of the lead inspection and provide recommendations to reduce or eliminate the lead hazard.
254.166(2)(c)
(c) Notify the occupant of the dwelling or premises or that person's representative that a lead hazard is present on or in the dwelling or premises and may constitute a health hazard.
254.166(2)(d)
(d) Notify the owner of the dwelling or premises of the presence of a lead hazard. The department may issue an order that requires reduction or elimination of an imminent lead hazard within 5 days after the order's issuance and reduction or elimination of other lead hazards within 30 days after the order's issuance, except that, for orders that are issued between October 1 and May 1 and that relate only to exterior lead hazards that are not imminent lead hazards, the order may require elimination or reduction of the lead hazard no earlier than the June 1 immediately following the order's issuance. If the department determines that the owner has good cause for not complying with the order within the 5-day or 30-day time period, the department may extend the time period within which the owner is required to comply with the order. The failure to comply with the department's order within the time prescribed or as extended by the department shall be prima facie evidence of negligence in any action brought to recover damages for injuries incurred after the time period expires. If an order to conduct lead hazard reduction is issued by the department or by a local health department and if the owner of the dwelling or premises complies with that order, there is a rebuttable presumption that the owner of the dwelling or premises has exercised reasonable care with respect to lead poisoning or lead exposure caused, after the order has been complied with, by lead hazards covered by the order, except that with respect to interim control activities the rebuttable presumption continues only for the period for which the interim control activity is reasonably expected to reduce or eliminate the lead hazard.
254.166(4)
(4) The department shall give priority to eliminating lead hazards from dwellings in which children under 6 years of age with diagnosed lead poisoning or lead exposure reside.
254.166 History
History: 1979 c. 221;
1989 a. 31;
1993 a. 27 s.
433; Stats. 1993 s. 254.14;
1993 a. 450 ss.
39 to
41; Stats. 1993 s. 254.166.
254.167
254.167
Conduct of lead inspection. Subject to the limitation under
s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules establishing procedures for conducting lead inspections 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:
254.167(1)
(1) Specific procedures for inspecting, testing or sampling painted, varnished or other finished surfaces, drinking water, household dust, soil and other materials that may contain lead.
254.167(2)
(2) Specific procedures for the notification of owners, operators, occupants or prospective occupants, mortgagees and lienholders of lead levels identified during an inspection and of any health risks that are associated with the lead level and condition of the lead found during the inspection.
254.167(3)
(3) The form of lead inspection reports, the requirements for filing the reports with the department and the procedures by which members of the public may obtain copies of inspection reports.
254.167(4)
(4) Requirements for the posting of warnings, where appropriate, of the presence of a lead hazard.
254.167 History
History: 1993 a. 450.
254.168
254.168
Lead inspections of facilities serving children under 6 years of age. Subject to the limitation under
s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules that, after June 30, 1998, require any of the following facilities to have periodic lead inspections at intervals determined by the department or to otherwise demonstrate that the facility does not contain a lead hazard, if any part of the facility was constructed before January 1, 1978:
254.168(6)
(6) A private or public nursery school or kindergarten.
254.168(7)
(7) Any other facility serving children under 6 years of age that presents a risk for causing lead poisoning or lead exposure in children.
254.168 History
History: 1993 a. 450.
254.17
254.17
Lead inspections of rental and leased property. Subject to the limitation under
s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules requiring that after June 30, 1997, owners or operators of rental or leased dwellings or premises have a lead inspection of the dwellings or premises, if any part of the dwellings or premises was constructed before January 1, 1978, and if the department determines that the dwellings or premises in that class are likely to contain lead hazards. The rules may specify classes of dwellings or premises based on the age, condition and location of the dwellings and premises, the age of any of the occupants of the dwelling and any other appropriate factors.
254.17 History
History: 1993 a. 450.
254.172
254.172
Lead hazard reduction. Subject to the limitation under
s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules governing lead hazard reduction conducted after June 30, 1997, if the department determines that the rules are not preempted by federal law. 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. Rules promulgated under this section may include:
254.172(1)
(1) A definition of the levels of lead from various sources and media, including lead-bearing paint, soil, dust, water and air, which shall constitute an imminent lead hazard.
254.172(2)
(2) A definition of the levels of lead from various sources and media, including lead-bearing paint, soil, dust, water and air, which shall constitute a lead hazard.
254.172(3)
(3) A requirement that the owner or operator of any dwelling or premises provide lead hazard reduction to eliminate any imminent lead hazard.
254.172(4)
(4) A priority-based schedule of the classes of dwellings and premises containing a lead hazard and of the dates by which owners or operators of these classes of dwellings and premises must undertake lead hazard reduction. This priority-based schedule may be based on the age, condition and location of the dwelling or premises, the age of the occupants, the type of lead hazard and any other appropriate factors.
254.172(5)
(5) Acceptable lead hazard reduction methods for lead in various media.
