On January 26, NYLCV participated in Lead-Free Kids NY’s advocacy day. Lead-Free kids is a statewide coalition working to end New York’s childhood lead exposure crisis through advocating for state level policy solutions. While lead paint was banned in the United States in 1978, the old housing stock in New York leaves our citizens vulnerable to lead exposure. Because the current corrective policies have left loopholes for landlords to escape testing and renovation, many New York children have unknowingly been exposed to lead. Lead exposure puts our youngest New Yorkers at risk of their health as well as their learning and behavioral milestones being stunted. With that in mind, the day’s agenda consisted of both policy priorities and a bold $1 Billion budget to ensure no New York resident will have their health compromised by lead exposure.
Policy Priorities
When it comes to policy priorities, there were three bills that the coalition asked Senators and Assemblypeople for support: the Lead Based Paint Disclosure Act, The New York State Renovation, Repair and Painting Act, and the Landlord Insurance for Lead Based Paint Bill.
- The Lead Based Paint Disclosure Act–sponsored by Senator Kavanagh and Assemblyperson Rivera–closes any loopholes that allow property owners to avoid testing by requiring the NYSDOH to create a comprehensive tracking system.
- The New York State Renovation, Repair and Painting Act is sponsored by Senator Bailey and Assemblyperson Bronson. This legislation would allow the State to conduct training, certification, and enforcement of the safe renovation of lead infected properties. According to a study from the Community Foundation of Buffalo, this bill could protect 140,000 children under six years of age from lead exposure.
- The Landlord Insurance for Lead Based Paint Bill–sponsored by Senator Ryan and Assemblyperson J.Rivera–would require landlord insurance companies to cover damages caused by exposure to lead-based paint. This new requirement would ensure that the burden of healthcare costs related to lead-exposure would not fall on the renter or buyer.
Budget Asks
The bold $1 Billion budget ask at first glance may seem excessive; however, when broken down into specifics, it becomes evident that each dollar is absolutely necessary to end lead poisoning.
To begin, there is a $100 Million ask to allow the State Department of Health to execute key reporting, oversight and compliance functions. Specifically, these funds will be used in three ways. First, the funds will be used to support local health departments (LHD)–Specifically:
- scheduling and conducting on-site reviews of LHDs’ program implementation;
- developing and enforcing mandates requiring LHDs to perform follow-up; and
- increase hours for full-time employees to meet federal and state follow-up for children with elevated blood lead levels.
Second, for regional offices, this funding will
- ensure timely reviews for missing data in LeadWeb;
- allow quarterly follow-up of performance reports and the purchase of necessary resources;
- and expand Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs across the State.
Finally, these funds will allow LHDs to implement lead poisoning prevention mandates and provide the following follow-up services:
- pre-screening all LeadWeb records; enhancing case management tracking capability; –
- hiring more full-time employees to follow-up with children who have tested with higher blood lead levels; and
- to hire lead inspectors, risk assessors, and mitigators to eliminate source contamination.
$200 Million will be allocated to allow local health departments to create, expand, and implement programs to address lead poisoning prevention requirements, provide timely case management, and use all means address lead poisoning prevention requirements, provide timely case management, and use all means available to them to provide follow-up services to children identified with elevated blood lead levels, such as:
- pre-screening all LeadWeb records;
- enhancing case management tracking capability;
- hiring more full-time employees to follow-up with children who have tested with higher blood lead levels; and
- to hire lead inspectors, risk assessors, and mitigators to eliminate source contamination.
Following, there is a $500 Million ask for repair and renovation specifically allocated to the Department of Housing and Community Renewal to be used for:
- The renovation, repair, and painting of homes infected with lead;
- mitigate primary contamination in residences of children and adults with elevated blood lead levels; and
- increase workforce development of lead inspectors, lead risk assessors, and certified mitigators.
The coalition also calls for a $60 Million allocation so the Department of Labor can create a workforce development program to train and certify NYS lead, mold, and home inspectors.
$100 Million of the ask will also go to the Department of Labor; however, these funds will be used to provide renovation training for contractors. This training is integral because contractors can spread lead dust throughout the housing unit if not properly trained.
Finally, because of a lack of NYS certified inspectors, a $40 Million investment in community college courses is needed to train certified NYS lead, mold, and home inspectors. These courses will coincide with existing building envelope programs.
Over 40 years have passed since the outlaw of lead paint in the United States. It is high time that New York tackles and ends the problem for the health and safety of New York children and adults. NYLCV applauds the work of the Lead-Free Kids coalition for their advocacy.
By Cristina Goeller