PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1774, 2064 PRINTER'S NO. 2115
No. 171 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, COSTA, KITCHEN, HOLL, KUKOVICH,
LEMMOND, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, C. WILLIAMS AND
MELLOW, MARCH 11, 2002
AS AMENDED, JUNE 18, 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 <--
20020S0171R2115 - 2 -
1 the General Assembly by November 30, 2002 WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE <--
2 TASK FORCE BEING ESTABLISHED.
B21L82SFL/20020S0171R2115 - 3 -