BILL REQ. #:  S-0800.1 

Read first time 01/28/13.   Referred to Committee on Energy, Environment & Telecommunications.

     AN ACT Relating to directing the department of health to review the impact of chemicals on public health; adding new sections to chapter 43.70 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that certain chemicals and chemical mixtures in the environment have the potential to harm public health and may contribute to major adverse health outcomes such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, and learning and behavioral problems. Additionally, evidence indicates that citizens of the state are exposed to many chemicals and chemical mixtures in the environment for which the impacts on public health and the environment are not clearly understood.
     The legislature also finds that the department of health is the state agency that is directed to protect public health. It is therefore the intent of the legislature that the department of health assess existing and developing scientific information and provide updates to the legislature so as to provide current information in which to better understand the potential implications for public health from exposure to chemicals and chemical mixtures.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall:
     (1) Research, analyze, and evaluate priority chemicals and chemical mixtures, including new and emerging chemicals, that may prove to be of concern to public health, that are released from household products, furnishings, or building materials, or found in food, drinking water, soil, or air;
     (2) Provide information to the legislature about priority chemicals or mixtures of chemicals, including new and emerging chemicals, released from household products, furnishings, or building materials, or found in food, drinking water, soil, or air of importance to protecting public health that should be further evaluated, restricted, or substituted with a safer alternative; and
     (3) Determine public health priorities and strategies for preventing and reducing related adverse health outcomes from exposure to priority chemicals or mixtures of chemicals.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     Beginning June 30, 2014, and every two years thereafter, the department shall inform the legislature about current ongoing department research, analysis, and evaluation of: Priority chemicals; public health priorities and strategies for preventing adverse health outcomes from exposure to these priority chemicals and chemical mixtures; and recommendations for possible actions to reduce exposure to priority chemicals and prevent and reduce related adverse human health outcomes. The recommendations may include chemical restrictions, product notifications, requirements for safer alternatives, and revisions to the department's statutory authority necessary to achieve better protection of public health. The department shall provide updated findings and recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees every two years thereafter, as required under RCW 43.01.036.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2015, from the state toxics control account to the department of health for the purposes of this act.