PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1774 PRINTER'S NO. 2064
No. 171 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, COSTA, KITCHEN, HOLL, KUKOVICH, LEMMOND, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, C. WILLIAMS AND MELLOW, MARCH 11, 2002
SENATOR MOWERY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, AS AMENDED, JUNE 11, 2002
A RESOLUTION 1 Urging the Department of Health to develop a task force to 2 investigate the health effects of toxic mold. 3 WHEREAS, The Senate is becoming increasingly concerned that 4 the presence of toxic mold contamination in homes, schools and 5 office buildings is causing possible health hazards; and 6 WHEREAS, An outbreak of litigation has ensued in the western 7 part of the United States by homeowners against their building 8 contractors and insurance companies to recover for damage done 9 to their homes and health problems which were possibly linked to 10 mold contamination where they were awarded millions of dollars; 11 and 12 WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have 13 performed numerous studies on the possible health effects of 14 toxic mold and have found possible linkages of exposure to mold 15 contamination to health problems such as coughing, wheezing, 16 runny nose, irritated eyes and throat and skin rashes; and 17 WHEREAS, Health professionals have investigated possible
1 relationships between mold contamination and outbreaks of 2 allergies, asthma attacks, negative effects on the function of 3 vital organs and a possible increase of susceptibility to colds 4 and flu; and 5 WHEREAS, It is imperative that the extent of health risks 6 related to toxic mold contamination be determined and a 7 corresponding plan of action be taken to eliminate such hazards 8 from buildings and structures within this Commonwealth; and 9 WHEREAS, Identifying and studying this indoor toxin is the 10 first step towards eliminating it from homes, schools and other 11 buildings throughout this Commonwealth; and 12 WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of the public health, 13 welfare and safety to establish a comprehensive study of toxic 14 mold; therefore be it 15 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the Department of Health to 16 establish a task force to investigate toxic mold in homes, 17 schools and buildings and the potential health hazards it may 18 cause; and be it further 19 RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of various 20 individuals, including health officers, health and medical 21 experts, mold abatement experts, affected consumers, and 22 representatives of affected industries, including FOREST <-- 23 PRODUCTS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, residential, commercial and 24 industrial tenants, proprietors, landlords, insurers and 25 builders; and be it further 26 RESOLVED, That the task force advise the department on the 27 development of exposure limits to mold, standards for assessment 28 of molds in indoor environments and standards for identification 29 and remediation of mold; and be it further 30 RESOLVED, That the task force must present its findings to 20020S0171R2064 - 2 -
1 the General Assembly BY NOVEMBER 30, 2002. <-- B21L82SFL/20020S0171R2064 - 3 -