HLS 19RS-2740 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 233
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAINES
ENVIRONMENT: Urges and requests the Department of Environmental Quality to study
the feasibility of expanding the testing of child-occupied facilities for lead and
mercury
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Department of Environmental Quality to study the feasibility of and
3 identify potential funding sources for expanding the testing of child-occupied
4 facilities for lead and mercury and report its findings to the House Committee on
5 Natural Resources and Environment on or before February 1, 2020.
6 WHEREAS, lead exposure can cause learning disabilities, hearing difficulties,
7behavior problems, and actually impact a child's IQ; and
8 WHEREAS, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no
9safe amount of lead that children can ingest; and
10 WHEREAS, elemental mercury and methylmercury are toxic to the central and
11peripheral nervous systems; and
12 WHEREAS, the inhalation of mercury vapor can produce harmful effects on the
13nervous, digestive, and immune systems as well as the lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal;
14and
15 WHEREAS, the inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes, and
16gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested; and
17 WHEREAS, neurological and behavioral disorders may be observed after inhalation,
18ingestion, or dermal exposure of different mercury compounds; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 19RS-2740 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 233
1 WHEREAS, the Department of Environmental Quality oversees a program to reduce
2lead hazards which includes the testing of child-occupied facilities in an effort to protect
3those most vulnerable to exposure.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
5Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Environmental
6Quality to study the feasibility of and identify potential funding sources for expanding the
7testing of child-occupied facilities for lead and mercury and report its findings to the House
8Committee on Natural Resources and Environment on or before February 1, 2020.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
10secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 233 Original 2019 Regular Session Gaines
Urges and requests the Dept. of Environmental Quality to study the feasibility of and
identify potential funding sources for expanding the testing of child-occupied facilities for
lead and mercury and report its findings to the House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment on or before Feb. 1, 2020.
Page 2 of 2