Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Greece, has sponsored a bill in the Senate that would help municipalities tackle the chronic problem of lead paint. But he must do more to ensure the bill can actually pass, according to a group of environmental and health advocates.

Lead paint has been linked to learning deficiencies in children.According to the Democrat and Chronicle, the bill would require the state Health Department to identify the 30 cities outside New York City with the worst poisoning problems from lead paint and then work with counties to develop plans to reduce the incidence. Almost 3,000 children under 6 years old who lived outside New York City were identified as having significantly elevated levels of lead in 2005, according to the state Health Department.

The bill has already passed the Assembly but it is unclear whether the Senate will bring the measure up for a vote.

"We congratulate Senator Robach for sponsoring this bill," said Russ Haven of the New York Public Interest Research Group, which has been pushing the bill for years. "But at the end of the day, the sign of an effective legislator is getting it passed and over the goal line."

Robach said he is doing "everything I can" to get the measure passed.