Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2197 Compare Versions

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22 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3324 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
33 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2197
44 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
55 _________________
66 PRESENTED BY:
77 Kate Hogan and Julian Cyr
88 _________________
99 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
1010 Court assembled:
1111 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
1212 An Act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS.
1313 _______________
1414 PETITION OF:
1515 NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kate Hogan3rd Middlesex1/19/2023Julian CyrCape and Islands1/24/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/24/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/24/2023James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex1/24/2023Steven Owens29th Middlesex1/24/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex1/24/2023Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/24/2023Adam Scanlon14th Bristol1/24/2023Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex1/24/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/24/2023Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol1/24/2023Sarah K. Peake4th Barnstable1/24/2023Patricia A. Duffy5th Hampden1/24/2023Tram T. Nguyen18th Essex1/24/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/25/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/25/2023Aaron L. Saunders7th Hampden1/25/2023 2 of 3
1616 Steven Ultrino33rd Middlesex1/25/2023Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex1/25/2023Simon Cataldo14th Middlesex1/25/2023Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/25/2023Paul J. Donato35th Middlesex1/25/2023David Paul Linsky5th Middlesex1/26/2023Josh S. Cutler6th Plymouth1/26/2023Jessica Ann Giannino16th Suffolk1/27/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol1/27/2023Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex1/27/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/28/2023Angelo L. D'Emilia8th Plymouth1/30/2023Kevin G. Honan17th Suffolk1/30/2023Ruth B. Balser12th Middlesex1/31/2023Ann-Margaret Ferrante5th Essex1/31/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/3/2023David M. Rogers24th Middlesex2/3/2023Adrian C. Madaro1st Suffolk2/3/2023Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/3/2023Sally P. Kerans13th Essex2/4/2023Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester2/6/2023Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester2/6/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023Andres X. Vargas3rd Essex2/8/2023Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/8/2023David Allen Robertson19th Middlesex2/8/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/8/2023Tackey Chan2nd Norfolk2/9/2023Kay Khan11th Middlesex2/9/2023Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex2/9/2023Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk2/9/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/10/2023William C. Galvin6th Norfolk2/13/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/13/2023Kelly W. Pease4th Hampden2/15/2023James Arciero2nd Middlesex2/15/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/15/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/16/2023Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex2/17/2023 3 of 3
1717 John Barrett, III1st Berkshire2/21/2023Kate Lipper-Garabedian32nd Middlesex2/22/2023Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/22/2023Christopher Richard Flanagan1st Barnstable2/23/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester2/23/2023Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex2/28/2023Lydia EdwardsThird Suffolk3/2/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk3/5/2023Dylan A. FernandesBarnstable, Dukes and Nantucket3/6/2023William J. Driscoll, Jr.7th Norfolk3/6/2023Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk3/7/2023John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth3/9/2023Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex3/10/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol3/13/2023 1 of 17
1818 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3324 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
1919 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2197
2020 By Representative Hogan of Stow and Senator Cyr, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House,
2121 No. 2197) of Kate Hogan, Julian Cyr and others for legislation to protect public health from
2222 PFAS. Public Health.
2323 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2424 _______________
2525 In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
2626 (2023-2024)
2727 _______________
2828 An Act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS.
2929 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
3030 of the same, as follows:
3131 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 10 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
3232 2section 35SSS the following section:-
3333 3 Section 35TTT. (a) As used in this section, the following words, unless the context
3434 4clearly requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings:-
3535 5 “Board of health”, any body politic or political subdivision of the commonwealth that
3636 6acts as a board of health, public health commission or a health department for a municipality,
3737 7region or district, including, but not limited to, municipal boards of health, regional health
3838 8districts established pursuant to G.L. c. 111, § 27B and boards of health that share services
3939 9pursuant to G.L. c. 40, § 4A.
4040 10 “Office”, executive office of energy and environmental affairs.
4141 11 “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances” or “PFAS”, as defined in 310 CMR 22.07G. 2 of 17
4242 12 “Regional system”, any system established by mutual agreement of 2 or more
4343 13municipalities or by a county in which all municipalities of said county have an agreement to
4444 14provide drinking water or wastewater services, or both, through shared facilities, sources or
4545 15distribution networks.
4646 16 “Secretary”, secretary of energy and environmental affairs.
4747 17 (b) (1) There shall be a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund. Expenditures from the fund shall
4848 18be made by the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, without further
4949 19appropriation and consistent with the terms of settlements made in connection with claims
5050 20arising from the manufacture, marketing or sale of PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam,
5151 21as applicable. The secretary of energy and environmental affairs shall administer the fund.
5252 22 (2) The fund shall be expended to mitigate the impacts of PFAS contamination in
5353 23drinking water, groundwater, and soil in the commonwealth, including, but not limited to,
5454 24assisting municipalities, private well owners, and public water systems with the cost of PFAS
5555 25remediation projects. Amounts credited to the fund shall not be subject to further appropriation
5656 26and monies remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General
5757 27Fund, but shall instead be available for expenditure during the next fiscal year. Any fiscal year-
5858 28end balance in the fund shall be excluded from the calculation of the consolidated net surplus
5959 29pursuant to G.L. c. 29, § 5C.
6060 30 (3) There shall be credited to the fund: (i) amounts recovered by the commonwealth and
6161 31credited thereto in connection with claims arising from the manufacture, marketing or sale of
6262 32PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam; (ii) transfers from other funds authorized by the
6363 33general court and so designated; (iii) funds from public or private sources, including, but not 3 of 17
6464 34limited to, gifts, grants, donations, rebates and settlements received by the commonwealth
6565 35designated to the fund; and (iv) any interest earned on such amounts.
6666 36 (c) The secretary shall award and administer grants from the fund, without further
6767 37appropriation, for the purpose of addressing exceedances of state cleanup standards for PFAS in
6868 38drinking water, groundwater and soil to: (i) municipalities for municipal use, including, but not
6969 39limited to, establishing connections to regional systems and funds necessary to address the
7070 40reasonable administrative costs of the municipality; (ii) boards of health for use in assisting
7171 41private well users; (iii) community water systems for use on an existing system or to expand a
7272 42system to assist additional water users; and (iv) non-transient non-community water systems.
7373 43 (d) The office shall adopt rules, and include conditions in grant documents, to ensure that
7474 44the applicant has made and will make reasonable efforts to obtain and use funds from any liable
7575 45or potentially liable third party, excluding public sector fire departments for the use of Class B
7676 46firefighting foam in emergency responses, prior to and after receiving a grant. In addition, the
7777 47office shall adopt rules establishing criteria to ensure that an applicant shall not be eligible for
7878 48grants for any project or portion of a project to the extent the negligence of the applicant caused
7979 49the contamination that resulted in the exceedance of state cleanup standards for PFAS in drinking
8080 50water, groundwater and soil.
8181 51 (e) If the office provides a grant related to costs for a project for which a third party might
8282 52otherwise be liable, the right to recover payment from such third party, excluding public sector
8383 53fire departments for the use of Class B firefighting foam in emergency responses, shall be
8484 54subrogated to the office to the extent of such forgiveness or grant. Any money recovered by the
8585 55office from such third parties shall be deposited in the PFAS Remediation Trust Fund. 4 of 17
8686 56 (f)(1) The office may collaborate with the department of public health to provide funding
8787 57for boards of health to establish a program of rebates to private well users. Eligible spending for
8888 58rebate shall include, but not be limited to, sampling of private well water for PFAS regulated by
8989 59the department of environmental protection under 310 CMR 22.00 and purchase of point-of-
9090 60entry or point-of-use treatment systems to remove PFAS from drinking water.
9191 61 (2) Boards of health may opt in to receive funding from the office pursuant to paragraph
9292 62(1), and may apply for and receive funds from the office necessary to cover reasonable
9393 63administrative costs related to implementation of said paragraph (1). Boards of health that opt in
9494 64shall amend their codes to require private well water quality testing for PFAS for property sales
9595 65and new construction.
9696 66 (3) Annually, not later than August 31, boards of health that opt in under paragraph (2)
9797 67shall submit a report to the office including information demonstrating compliance during the
9898 68preceding fiscal year with said paragraph (2).
9999 69 (g) Annually, not later than October 1, the secretary shall file a report on the activity,
100100 70revenue and expenditures to and from the fund in the prior fiscal year with the clerks of the
101101 71house of representatives and the senate and the house and senate committees on ways and means,
102102 72and shall make the report available on the office’s website. The report shall include, but not be
103103 73limited to: (i) revenue credited to the fund; (ii) the amount of expenditure attributable to the
104104 74administrative costs of the office; (iii) an itemized list of the funds expended from the fund; and
105105 75(iv) data and an assessment of how well resources have been directed to environmental justice
106106 76communities. 5 of 17
107107 77 SECTION 2. Chapter 21 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
108108 78section 43A the following section:-
109109 79 Section 43B. (a) The department of environmental protection shall amend its
110110 80groundwater discharge permits with requirements for quarterly monitoring and reporting of per-
111111 81and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as “PFAS”.
112112 82 (b) The department shall amend its surface water discharge permits and groundwater
113113 83discharge permits issued to industrial permittees with requirements to implement best
114114 84management practices for discharges of PFAS, including, but not limited to: (i) product
115115 85elimination or substitution when a reasonable alternative to using PFAS is available in the
116116 86industrial process; (ii) accidental discharge minimization; and (iii) equipment decontamination or
117117 87replacement where PFAS products have historically been used.
118118 88 (c) The department shall propose rules and regulations pursuant to G.L. c. 21, § 27 for
119119 89effluent limitations and pre-treatment requirements for PFAS in groundwater discharge.
120120 90 SECTION 3. Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
121121 91section 28 the following section:-
122122 92 Section 29. (a) The office, in collaboration with the executive office of health and human
123123 93services, shall develop and implement a multilingual outreach program to promote the education
124124 94of environmental justice populations impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,
125125 95commonly referred to as “PFAS”, contamination. This program shall include the development
126126 96and distribution of educational materials, the content of which shall include, but not be limited
127127 97to: (i) the health effects of PFAS exposure; (ii) the routes of PFAS exposure; (iii) a list of
128128 98facilities required to prepare a toxics use reduction plan for PFAS within 10 miles of the 6 of 17
129129 99environmental justice community; (iv) citizen involvement pursuant to G.L. c. 21I, § 18; and (v)
130130 100state assistance programs for PFAS remediation.
131131 101 (b) The educational materials shall be translated into the primary languages of impacted
132132 102environmental justice populations. Such educational materials shall be made available to, but not
133133 103be limited to: (i) community centers; (ii) health care centers; and (iii) schools.
134134 104 (c) The office may contract or associate with public and private agencies and
135135 105organizations for the preparation of said educational materials on PFAS exposure, other pertinent
136136 106resource information on the matter of PFAS contamination and conducting educational
137137 107programs.
138138 108 SECTION 4. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
139139 109section 5S the following sections:-
140140 110 Section 5T. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
141141 111clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
142142 112 “Food package", a package or packaging component that is intended for the marketing,
143143 113protection or handling of a product intended for food contact or used to store food and foodstuffs
144144 114for sale.
145145 115 "Manufacturer", a person, firm, association, partnership, government entity, organization,
146146 116joint venture or corporation that applies a package to a product for distribution or sale.
147147 117 "Package", a container providing a means of marketing, protecting or handling a product
148148 118which shall include a unit package, an intermediate package, a package used for shipping or 7 of 17
149149 119transport and unsealed receptacles such as carrying cases, crates, cups, pails, rigid foil and other
150150 120trays, wrappers and wrapping films, bags and tubs.
151151 121 "Packaging component", an individual assembled part of a package including, but not
152152 122limited to, any interior or exterior blocking, bracing, cushioning, weatherproofing, exterior
153153 123strapping, coatings, closures, inks and labels.
154154 124 "Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or “PFAS”, a class of fluorinated substances that
155155 125contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom.
156156 126 (b) No manufacturer shall sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in
157157 127the commonwealth food packaging to which PFAS have been intentionally added in any amount.
158158 128 Section 5U. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
159159 129clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
160160 130 “Child passenger restraint”, a child passenger restraint under G.L. c. 90, § 7AA.
161161 131 “Children’s products”, a consumer product, including its product components, intended,
162162 132made or marketed for use by children 12 years of age or under, not including medical devices.
163163 133 “Consumer product,” any article that, to any significant extent, is distributed in
164164 134commerce for personal use or consumption by individuals.
165165 135 “Cookware”, durable houseware items that are used in homes and restaurants to prepare,
166166 136dispense, or store food, foodstuffs or beverages, including, but not limited to, pots, pans, skillets,
167167 137grills, baking sheets, baking molds, trays, bowls and cooking utensils. 8 of 17
168168 138 “Current unavoidable use”, a use of PFAS that the department has determined under this
169169 139section to be essential for health, safety or the functioning of society and for which alternatives
170170 140are not reasonably available.
171171 141 “Distributor”, any person, firm or corporation who takes title to goods, produced either
172172 142domestically or in a foreign country, purchased for resale or promotional purposes.
173173 143 “Fabric treatment”, a substance applied to fabric, carpets, rugs, shoes or textiles to impart
174174 144characteristics, including, but not limited to, stain resistance or water resistance.
175175 145 “Intentionally added”, the addition of a chemical to a final product or product component
176176 146for the purpose of providing a specific characteristic, appearance or quality or to perform a
177177 147specific function in the product or product component, including PFAS that are intentional
178178 148chemical breakdown products or derivatives of an added chemical that also have a specific
179179 149function in the product or product component.
180180 150 “Manufacturer”, any person, firm or corporation that manufactures a product whose
181181 151brand name is affixed to the product. In the case of a product imported into the United States,
182182 152“manufacturer” includes the importer or first domestic distributor of the product if the person
183183 153that manufactured or assembled or whose brand name is affixed to the product does not have a
184184 154presence in the United States.
185185 155 “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances” or “PFAS”, a class of fluorinated substances that
186186 156contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom.
187187 157 “Personal care products”, articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on,
188188 158introduced into or otherwise applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting 9 of 17
189189 159attractiveness or altering the appearance. Personal care products shall include products such as
190190 160skin moisturizers, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, eye and facial makeup preparations,
191191 161shampoos, permanent waves, hair colors, toothpastes, sunscreen, hair spray, shaving cream and
192192 162deodorants, as well as any material intended for use as a component of a cosmetic product.
193193 163Personal care products shall also include disposable menstrual products such as sanitary napkins,
194194 164tampons and underwear liners.
195195 165 “Product component”, a component of a product, including the product’s ingredients or a
196196 166part of the product, regardless of whether the manufacturer of the product is the manufacturer of
197197 167the component.
198198 168 “Product label”, a display of written, printed or graphic material that appears on, or is
199199 169affixed to, the exterior of a product, or its exterior container or wrapper that is visible to a
200200 170consumer, if the product has an exterior container or wrapper.
201201 171 “Retailer”, any person, firm or corporation to whom a consumer product is delivered or
202202 172sold, if such delivery or sale is for purposes of sale or distribution in commerce to purchasers
203203 173who buy such product for purposes other than resale.
204204 174 “Rugs and carpets”, fabric used to or marketed to cover floors.
205205 175 “Upholstered furniture'', as defined in G.L. c. 94, § 270.
206206 176 “Wholesaler,” any person, firm or corporation to whom a consumer product is delivered
207207 177or sold, if such delivery or sale is for purposes of sale or distribution in commerce to purchasers
208208 178who buy such product for purposes of resale. 10 of 17
209209 179 (b) (1) No manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler or retailer shall offer for sale, sell or
210210 180distribute in the commonwealth any of the following products or product categories to which
211211 181PFAS have been intentionally added: (i) child passenger restraints; (ii) cookware; (iii) fabric
212212 182treatments; (iv) personal care products; (v) rugs and carpets; (vi) upholstered furniture; and (vii)
213213 183children’s products.
214214 184 (2) The prohibitions of this subsection shall not apply to the sale or resale of used
215215 185products.
216216 186 (3) Products or product categories in which the use of PFAS is a currently unavoidable
217217 187use, as determined by the department, may be exempted by the department at intervals of no
218218 188more than 3 years.
219219 189 (c) (1) No manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler or retailer shall offer for sale, sell or
220220 190distribute in the commonwealth any products to which PFAS have been intentionally added,
221221 191unless the department has determined that the use of PFAS in the product is a currently
222222 192unavoidable use and grants a temporary exemption at intervals of no more than 3 years.
223223 193 (2) The prohibitions of this subsection shall not apply to the sale or resale of used
224224 194products.
225225 195 (d) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this section.
226226 196 (e) The attorney general shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this section
227227 197pursuant to G.L. c. 93A, § 4.
228228 198 (f) (1) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of
229229 199public health shall establish, on or before June 1, 2025, a publicly accessible reporting platform 11 of 17
230230 200to collect information about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or “PFAS”, and products or
231231 201product components containing PFAS being sold, offered for sale, distributed or offered for
232232 202promotional purposes in, or imported into, the state. The department may consult with Interstate
233233 203Chemicals Clearinghouse to establish such a platform.
234234 204 (2) On or before June 1, 2026, and on or before June 1 of each year thereafter, a
235235 205manufacturer of PFAS or a product or product component containing intentionally added PFAS
236236 206that is sold, offered for sale, distributed or offered for promotional purposes in, or imported into,
237237 207the state shall register the PFAS or the product or product component containing intentionally
238238 208added PFAS on the publicly accessible reporting platform created pursuant to paragraph (1),
239239 209along with all of the following information, as applicable: (i) the name and type of product or
240240 210product component containing intentionally added PFAS; (ii) the universal product code, or
241241 211“UPC,” of the product or product component containing intentionally added PFAS; (iii) how the
242242 212PFAS are, or the product or product component containing intentionally added PFAS are, used
243243 213by businesses or consumers; (iv) the specific names of all PFAS compounds in the product or
244244 214product component containing intentionally added PFAS and the Chemical Abstracts Service
245245 215Registry Number, also known as a “CAS Registry Number” or “CAS RN,” of each PFAS
246246 216compound; (v) the amount of the product or the product component or the numbers of products
247247 217or product components sold, delivered or imported into the state; (vi) the name and address of
248248 218the manufacturer, and the name, address and phone number of the contact person for the
249249 219manufacturer; and (vii) any additional information established by the department as necessary to
250250 220implement the requirements of this section. 12 of 17
251251 221 (3) With the approval of the department, a manufacturer may supply the information
252252 222required in paragraph (2) for a category or type of product rather than for each individual
253253 223product.
254254 224 (4) In a manner determined by the department, a manufacturer shall update and revise the
255255 225information required under paragraph (2) whenever there is a significant change in the
256256 226information or when requested to do so by the department.
257257 227 (5) The department may establish by regulation and assess a fee payable by a
258258 228manufacturer upon submission of the notification required under paragraph (2) to cover the
259259 229department’s reasonable costs in developing and administering this section.
260260 230 (g) (1) A manufacturer of products registered under paragraph (2) of subsection (f) shall
261261 231send an electronic notification to distributors and wholesalers of the product that the product
262262 232contains PFAS.
263263 233 (2) A distributor or wholesaler who receives a notification pursuant to paragraph (1) shall
264264 234send an electronic notification to retailers of the product that the product contains PFAS.
265265 235 (3) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this subsection.
266266 236 (4) The attorney general shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this
267267 237subsection under G.L. c. 93A, § 4.
268268 238 (h) A manufacturer of products registered under paragraph (2) of subsection (f) shall state
269269 239the presence of PFAS on a product label that is visible and legible to the consumer, including on
270270 240the product listing for online sales. Products that meet both of the following requirements are
271271 241exempt from the requirements of this section: (i) the surface area of the product cannot fit a 13 of 17
272272 242product label of at least two square inches; and (ii) the product does not have either (1) an
273273 243exterior container or wrapper on which a product label can appear or be affixed, or (2) a tag or
274274 244other attachment with information about the product attached to the product.
275275 245 (i) A manufacturer of any of the following products that is sold, offered for sale,
276276 246distributed or offered for promotional purposes in, or imported into, the state shall test for the
277277 247presence of unintentionally added PFAS using analytical methods approved by the department:
278278 248(i) child passenger restraints; (ii) cookware; (iii) fabric treatments; (iv) personal care products;
279279 249(v) rugs and carpets; (vi) upholstered furniture; and (vii) children’s products.
280280 250 SECTION 5. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
281281 251section 244 the following sections:-
282282 252 Section 245. (a) The department, in consultation with the department of environmental
283283 253protection, shall design and implement a public awareness campaign to inform Massachusetts
284284 254residents of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as “PFAS”,
285285 255contamination across the commonwealth and potential health impacts of PFAS exposure. The
286286 256campaign shall include, but is not limited to, the following subjects: (i) PFAS exposure
287287 257pathways, including drinking water, groundwater, surface water, wastewater, land application of
288288 258biosolids, landfills, air and fish tissue; (ii) consumer products that are known to contain PFAS;
289289 259(iii) PFAS in Class B firefighting foam; (iv) facilities that are known and potential sources of
290290 260PFAS in the commonwealth; (v) potential health impacts of PFAS exposure; and (vi) state
291291 261assistance programs for PFAS remediation.
292292 262 (b) The department of public health shall develop informational booklets about PFAS and
293293 263make the booklets available to all health care professionals, community health centers, and 14 of 17
294294 264members of the public upon their request. The department shall publicize and make available the
295295 265booklet to the maximum extent possible, and shall make the booklet available electronically on
296296 266its website in English and Spanish. This information may be revised by the department whenever
297297 267new information about the health impacts of PFAS becomes available.
298298 268 Section 246. (a) The following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
299299 269have the following meanings:-
300300 270 “Firefighting personal protective equipment” means any clothing designed, intended or
301301 271marketed to be worn by firefighting personnel in the performance of their duties, designed with
302302 272the intent for the use in fire and rescue activities, including jackets, pants, shoes, gloves, helmets
303303 273and respiratory equipment.
304304 274 “Local governments” includes any county, city, town, fire district, regional fire protection
305305 275authority, or special purpose district that provides firefighting services.
306306 276 “Manufacturer”, any person, firm or corporation that manufactures or distributes
307307 277firefighting agents or firefighting equipment. In the case of a product imported into the United
308308 278States, “manufacturer” includes the importer or first domestic distributor of the product if the
309309 279person that manufactured or assembled or whose brand name is affixed to the product does not
310310 280have a presence in the United States.
311311 281 "Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or “PFAS”, a class of fluorinated substances that
312312 282contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom.
313313 283 (b) (1) A manufacturer or other person that sells firefighting personal protective
314314 284equipment containing PFAS to any person, local government or state agency shall provide 15 of 17
315315 285written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale: (i) that the firefighting personal protective
316316 286equipment contains PFAS; and (ii) the reason PFAS are added to the equipment.
317317 287 (2) The manufacturer or other person selling firefighting personal protective equipment
318318 288and the purchaser of the equipment shall retain a copy of the notice required pursuant to this
319319 289subsection on file for at least 3 years from the date of the purchase. Upon the request of the
320320 290department, a person, manufacturer, or purchaser shall furnish the notice, or written copies, and
321321 291associated sales documentation to the department within 60 days of such request.
322322 292 SECTION 6. Said section 246 of said chapter 111 of the General Laws, is hereby
323323 293amended by striking out subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
324324 294 (b) A manufacturer or other person that sells firefighting personal protective equipment to
325325 295any person, local government, or state agency shall not manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for
326326 296sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in the commonwealth any firefighting personal
327327 297protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS.
328328 298 SECTION 7. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no person,
329329 299local government or state agency shall use a Class B firefighting foam that contains intentionally
330330 300added PFAS in any amount for training or testing purposes.
331331 301 (b) Any person, unit of local government, fire department, or state agency that discharges
332332 302or releases Class B firefighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS must notify the
333333 303department of environmental protection’s emergency response line within 48 hours of the
334334 304discharge or release. 16 of 17
335335 305 (c) The department of public health shall collect data on occupational exposure to PFAS,
336336 306including, but not limited to, firefighters, and shall report data through the Massachusetts Cancer
337337 307Registry.
338338 308 SECTION 8. The department of environmental protection shall amend the private well
339339 309guidelines, last updated July 2018, and model BOH regulation for private wells, last updated July
340340 3102018, to include language for testing, monitoring, and remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl
341341 311substances regulated by the department under 310 CMR 22.07G(3).
342342 312 SECTION 9. Subsection (a) of section 43B of chapter 21 of the General Laws shall take
343343 313effect six months after United States Environmental Protection Agency Method 1633 is available
344344 314to the public.
345345 315 SECTION 10. Subsection (b) of said section 43B of said chapter 21 shall take effect on
346346 316the 180th day following enactment.
347347 317 SECTION 11. Subsection (c) of said section 43B of said chapter 21 shall take effect two
348348 318years after United States Environmental Protection Agency Method 1633 is available to the
349349 319public.
350350 320 SECTION 12. Section 5T of said chapter 111 shall take effect January 1, 2026.
351351 321 SECTION 13. Subsection (b) of said section 5U of said chapter 111 shall take effect
352352 322January 1, 2026.
353353 323 SECTION 14. Subsection (c) of said section 5U of said chapter 111 shall take effect
354354 324January 1, 2030. 17 of 17
355355 325 SECTION 15. Paragraph (1) of said subsection (g) of said section 5U of said chapter 111
356356 326shall take effect June 1, 2026.
357357 327 SECTION 16. Subsection (h) of said section 5U of said chapter 111 shall take effect
358358 328January 1, 2026.
359359 329 SECTION 17. Subsection (i) of said section 5U of said chapter 111 shall take effect
360360 330January 1, 2030.
361361 331 SECTION 18. Section 245 of said chapter 111 shall take effect on the 180th day
362362 332following enactment.
363363 333 SECTION 19. Section 246 of said chapter 111 shall take effect January 1, 2025.
364364 334 SECTION 20. Section 6 shall take effect January 1, 2026