JASON CONGER

OREGON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE DISTRICT 54

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Jordan Conger
February 16, 2012	503-986-1454

REP. CONGER PASSES BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS

CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING

SALEM—Rep. Jason Conger (R-Bend) secured unanimous passage of a bipartisan bill to address childhood lead poisoning.  Rep. Conger and Rep. Lew Frederick (D-Portland) co-carried HB 4015 on the House Floor, which better enables the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to work with K-12 schools to prevent lead poisoning among children.

“HB 4105 directs OHA to create a special clearinghouse on information relating to lead poisoning,” Rep. Conger said.  “By making this information available to schools, we can help educate students about the dangers posed by exposure to lead and how best to protect them from the potential hazards of lead-based paint.”

Current state law gives OHA the authority to regulate lead-based paint activities.  The agency regulates, trains and certifies companies and individuals that utilize lead-based paint.  In addition, the agency’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program helps identify children with lead poisoning and ensures they receive appropriate care.

Under HB 4105, OHA will develop a lead poisoning prevention clearinghouse for schools that include information such as common sources of exposure to lead, adverse health effects from exposure, and a list of the state’s laws and rules related to web-based paint.

“The bill supplements the state’s strategy to prevent lead poisoning, and the web-based clearinghouse will serve as an additional tool to educate Oregonians about the effects of exposure,” Rep. Conger said.

The bill now moves to the State Senate for further consideration.

###