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Spencer, Muoio & Benson Bill to Boost Funds for Combatting Lead Based Paint Hazards in New Jersey Clears Assembly Committee

(TRENTON) – The Assembly Housing Committee released legislation on Monday sponsored by Assembly Democrats L. Grace Spencer, Elizabeth Muoio and Daniel Benson in support of statewide efforts to rid lead based paint hazards in New Jersey communities.

The bill makes a FY 2014 supplemental Grants-in-Aid appropriation of $10,000,000 to the Department of Community Affairs.

“This legislation provides much-needed funding for state programs which protect children and families from lead hazards in the home,” said Spencer (D-Essex).

The Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund provides funding to address lead-based paint in New Jersey in a comprehensive and focused manner. Programs include lead-based paint hazard control through lead abatement or interim controls; emergency relocation of households which include a child with an elevated blood lead level; extensive statewide, regional and community based education and outreach; training courses in lead disciplines such as lead-safe building maintenance practices; identification of lead-safe housing via a web-based Lead Safe Housing Registry available to the public; increases in identification of lead-based paint hazards and lead dust hazards via the distribution of free dust-wipe kits an purchasing X-ray fluorescence analyzers for use by local health departments.

“Lead Hazard control programs have helped New Jersey families identify and rid lead hazards for many years. This funding ensures the programs will continue to be effective in their work,” said Muoio (D-Mercer, Hunterdon).

“The science is clear, lead exposure is a very serious, but preventable health risk to our children and families. This bill will help us continue to be proactive in lead poisoning remediation and prevention,” said Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex).

The bill now returns to the Speaker of Assembly for further consideration. Identical legislation was approved by the full Senate in June.