2026 -- S 2870

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT

     Introduced By: Senator Melissa A. Murray

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 23-24.6-7 and 23-24.6-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-24.6

entitled "Lead Poisoning Prevention Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-24.6-7. Screening by health care providers.

     (a) The department shall promulgate regulations establishing the means by which and the

intervals at which children under six (6) years of age shall be screened for lead poisoning. The

department is also authorized to require screening for lead poisoning in other high risk groups.

     (b) Each physician registered or licensed by Rhode Island or any agency of Rhode Island

shall screen children under six (6) years of age for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the

methods specified in the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a). Each licensed, registered

or approved health care facility serving children under six (6) years of age, including but not limited

to hospitals, clinics, and health maintenance organizations, shall take appropriate steps to ensure

that their patients receive screening for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods

specified in these regulations.

     (c) All health care programs funded in whole or in part with state money and having child

health components shall include, require, and/or provide for screening children under six (6) years

of age for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods specified in the regulations

promulgated under this section.

     (d) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents of the child object to the

child undergoing blood lead screening on the grounds that the screening conflicts with their

religious tenets and practices.

     (e) All blood samples taken by physicians or other health care providers licensed in Rhode

Island or by licensed, registered, or approved health care facilities in Rhode Island from children

under the age of six (6) years for the purpose of screening for blood lead level shall be sent to either

the state laboratory in the department of health or a clinical laboratory, as defined in chapter 16.2

of this title, that is operated by an entity incorporated in the State of Rhode Island, for laboratory

analysis.

     (f) The department shall, at least annually, analyze and summarize all of the lead screening

information provided by physicians, health care facilities, and laboratories and provide this

information to all other local and state agencies involved with case management and lead hazard

reduction. An analysis and summary of the data shall also be made available, at least annually, to

the health care community, to the general assembly, and the general public in a format that is easily

understandable to non-technical readers.

     23-24.6-21. Laboratory testing and reporting requirement certification.

     (a) Laboratory analyses of all clinical and environmental media samples collected to

demonstrate compliance with this chapter or with regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter

shall only be conducted by a laboratory which has been licensed or certified (as appropriate) by the

director pursuant to chapter 16.2 of this title entitled “Laboratories.” Licensed laboratories

performing blood lead analyses taken from children under six (6) years of age shall be certified by

the director in accordance with a process approved by the director.

     (b) All laboratories performing blood lead analyses on samples taken from children under

six (6) years of age shall report the results of such analyses to the department in accordance with

regulations promulgated by the department.

     (c) All laboratories performing blood lead analyses on samples taken from children under

six (6) years of age shall perform blood lead analyses on children under six (6) years of age

regardless of the child or child’s parent or guardian’s ability to pay for the analysis and at no cost

to the child or child’s parent or guardian.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT

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     This act would require any licensed laboratories performing blood lead analyses taken from

children under six (6) years of age be certified by the director in accordance with a process approved

by the director. The act would also require said laboratories to perform said blood lead analyses

regardless of the child or child’s parent or guardian’s ability to pay for the analysis and at no cost

to the child or child’s parent or guardian.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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