| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Select Committee on Environmental Health | |
2SHB 1601
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Creating the children's environmental health and protection advisory council.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Rolfes, Campbell, Chase, Hudgins, Hunt, Morrell, Upthegrove, McCoy, Santos, Dickerson, Hasegawa, Sells, Schual-Berke, Wood and Simpson).
Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/15/08
Staff: Ashley Pedersen (786-7303).
Background:
Studies have shown that children are more susceptible and more exposed to environmental
hazards than adults. Children are particularly vulnerable to such hazards as lead, pesticides, air
pollutants, contaminated water, toxic waste, secondhand tobacco smoke, and industrial and home
chemicals. As children's bodies and biological systems develop, they are uniquely vulnerable to
damage from toxic substances. Children are also more exposed to toxins from the environment,
as well as school and homes. Proportional to body weight, children take in far higher
concentrations of toxins in the environment than adults.
Summary of Second Substitute Bill:
The Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council (Council) is created.
Membership of the Council consists of 16 people, including members of the Legislature,
representatives of several state agencies, a tribal representative, a licensed pediatric health care
provider with expertise in the field of children's environmental health, a parent whose child has
been diagnosed with exposure to an environmental health hazard, a representative from the
academic community involved in research on environmental toxins and human exposure, and an
expert in the field of human toxicology.
The Council must review and comment on existing laws, rules, regulations, and standards to
ensure adequate protection of children's health from environmental hazards, both in Washington
and in other states. The Council must also review current research on environmental toxins and
exposures, children's environmental health and other research relevant to the protection of
children's health from environmental hazards. The State Board of Health must provide staff
support to the Council.
The Council must report to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2007, and
December 1, 2008, with recommendations of changes in regulation that would reduce children's
exposure to environmental hazards and recommendations for collaborative approaches to public
education.
The Council must collaborate and coordinate its activities with the Pesticide Incident Reporting
and Tracking Review Panel to ensure that the panel's activities are not duplicated.
The act expires June 30, 2009.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.