AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT (Requires any licensed lab performing blood lead analyses of a child under 6 to be certified by the director and said laboratory must perform this test regardless of the child or child’s parent’s ability to pay and at no cost.)

S2870

2026 -- S 2870
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT

Introduced By:
Senator Melissa A. Murray

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 23-24.6-7 and 23-24.6-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-24.6
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entitled "Lead Poisoning Prevention Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-24.6-7. Screening by health care providers.
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(a) The department shall promulgate regulations establishing the means by which and the
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intervals at which children under six (6) years of age shall be screened for lead poisoning. The
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department is also authorized to require screening for lead poisoning in other high risk groups.
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(b) Each physician registered or licensed by Rhode Island or any agency of Rhode Island
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shall screen children under six (6) years of age for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the
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methods specified in the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a). Each licensed, registered
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or approved health care facility serving children under six (6) years of age, including but not limited
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to hospitals, clinics, and health maintenance organizations, shall take appropriate steps to ensure
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that their patients receive screening for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods
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specified in these regulations.
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(c) All health care programs funded in whole or in part with state money and having child
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health components shall include, require, and/or provide for screening children under six (6) years
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of age for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods specified in the regulations
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promulgated under this section.
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(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents of the child object to the
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child undergoing blood lead screening on the grounds that the screening conflicts with their

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religious tenets and practices.
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(e) All blood samples taken by physicians or other health care providers licensed in Rhode
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Island or by licensed, registered, or approved health care facilities in Rhode Island from children
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under the age of six (6) years for the purpose of screening for blood lead level shall be sent to
either

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the state laboratory in the department of health
or a clinical laboratory, as defined in chapter 16.2
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of this title, that is operated by an entity incorporated in the State of Rhode Island,
for laboratory
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analysis.
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(f) The department shall, at least annually, analyze and summarize all of the lead screening
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information provided by physicians, health care facilities, and laboratories and provide this
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information to all other local and state agencies involved with case management and lead hazard
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reduction. An analysis and summary of the data shall also be made available, at least annually, to
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the health care community, to the general assembly, and the general public in a format that is easily
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understandable to non-technical readers.
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23-24.6-21. Laboratory testing and reporting requirement certification.
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(a) Laboratory analyses of all clinical and environmental media samples collected to
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demonstrate compliance with this chapter or with regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter
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shall only be conducted by a laboratory which has been licensed or certified (as appropriate) by the
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director pursuant to chapter 16.2 of this title entitled “Laboratories.”
Licensed laboratories
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performing blood lead analyses taken from children under six (6) years of age shall be certified by
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the director in accordance with a process approved by the director.
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(b) All laboratories performing blood lead analyses on samples taken from children under
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six (6) years of age shall report the results of such analyses to the department in accordance with
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regulations promulgated by the department.
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(c) All laboratories performing blood lead analyses on samples taken from children under
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six (6) years of age shall perform blood lead analyses on children under six (6) years of age
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regardless of the child or child’s parent or guardian’s ability to pay for the analysis and at no cost
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to the child or child’s parent or guardian.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT
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This act would require any licensed laboratories performing blood lead analyses taken from
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children under six (6) years of age be certified by the director in accordance with a process approved
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by the director. The act would also require said laboratories to perform said blood lead analyses
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regardless of the child or child’s parent or guardian’s ability to pay for the analysis and at no cost
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to the child or child’s parent or guardian.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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