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                                ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 5275

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Lee and Talmadge)

Read first time 3/1/89.

AN ACT Relating to high voltage electric and magnetic fields; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that it has not yet been proven that electric and magnetic field levels present in daily living are responsible for any adverse health effects.  The legislature further finds that several large-scale studies are presently being conducted throughout the nation on this subject and that it would be premature to set state exposure levels for electric and magnetic fields before these studies have been analyzed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The Washington state institute for public policy, in consultation and cooperation with the Oregon department of energy, is directed to oversee a review of present studies related to the effects of electric and magnetic fields.  The review shall use the resources of the state's higher education system, and shall include a report on the status of electric and magnetic field research.  The report shall identify high-priority research projects that still need to be undertaken to identify cancer or other medical risks which may be related to exposure to electromagnetic fields.  The report shall be distributed to members of the energy and utilities committees of the house of representatives and the senate, and shall be due on December 1, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) The sum of ten thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the Washington state institute for public policy for the purposes of this act.

          (2) The institute for public policy may accept grants, contributions, or appropriations from any person or governmental entity for the purposes of this act.