RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 157 (HB 665) 2020 Regular Session Cormier
Prior law which created and provided for the Louisiana Toxic Mold Task Force terminated
on January 1, 2018. New law restores and makes revisions to prior law.
New law provides a legislative declaration that it is in the best interest of the public health,
welfare, and safety to establish a task force to lead development of comprehensive policies
and promote best practices concerning mitigation and remediation of toxic mold and
reducing the adverse health effects caused by this unique threat to public health.
New law reestablishes the Louisiana Toxic Mold Task Force. Provides that the task force
shall be comprised of the following sixteen members:
(1)One pediatric environmental health specialist appointed by the secretary of the La.
Department of Health (LDH).
(2)One person with expertise in toxicology appointed by the secretary of LDH.
(3)The assistant secretary of the office of public health of LDH or his designee.
(4)The chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New
Orleans or his designee.
(5)The chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at
Shreveport or his designee.
(6)The dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine of Tulane University
or his designee.
(7)One member appointed by the La. State Medical Society.
(8)One member appointed by the La. Primary Care Association.
(9)One member with expertise in consumer protection appointed by the La. attorney
general.
(10)One member appointed by the Southern University Law Center.
(11)One member appointed by the Paul M. Hebert Law Center of Louisiana State
University.
(12)One member with expertise in toxic mold remediation appointed by the La. State
Licensing Board for Contractors.
(13)One member appointed by the La. Housing Corporation.
(14)One member appointed by the La. Realtors Association.
(15)One member appointed by the La. Home Builders Association.
(16)One member appointed by the Apartment Association of La.
New law provides that on or before January 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, the task force
shall prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a report on the status of public
health risks from toxic mold in La. Requires that the annual report include the following:
(1)An assessment, based on scientific evidence, of the nature, scope, and magnitude of
the adverse environmental and health impacts caused by toxic mold in La.
(2)Measurement, based on scientific evidence, of the adverse health effects of exposure
to molds on the general population, including specific effects on any subgroups
identifiable as being at greater risk of such health effects when exposed to molds. (3)Identification of actions taken by the state, local governments, and any other public
or private organizations that have made a positive impact on mitigating the harm to
public health of toxic mold.
(4)Identification of best practices for the control of mold in a cost-effective and
environmentally sound manner.
New law provides that the task force shall terminate on January 1, 2024.
Effective Aug. 1, 2020.
(Amends R.S. 40:1289.1-1289.5; Adds R.S. 36:259(B)(37))