A012-9900






10	AN ACT CONCERNING



20                   Toxic Paint and Chemicals - Public Information



30	FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of the Environment to prepare

40		written materials to educate the public about exposure to lead paint and

50	 	other hazardous or toxic chemicals; requiring inclusion of certain

60		information; requiring the Department to promptly provide this

70		information upon request by individuals and agencies; and requiring the

80 		Department to publicize the availability of the information.



90	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

100		Article - Environment

110		Section 6-503

120		Annotated Code of Maryland

		(1996 Replacement Volume and 1999 Supplement)



130 	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE MARYLAND STUDENT

140        	LEGISLATURE, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:



150				Article - Environment



160 	6-503



170	(a)	The Department shall:



180		(1)	Duplicate information on all chemical information lists and

190			material safety data 19 sheets that the Department receives under 

200	 		¤ 5-406 of the Labor and Employment Article;



210 		(2)	Maintain this information in a central repository for a period of 40

220       		years; and



230		(3)	Provide access to this information by the persons who are allowed

240      		access under this subtitle.



250	(b)	On written request to the Department, the following persons may have

260		access to, inspect, and make a copy, at the person's expense, of any

270		chemical information list and material safety data sheet that contains

280		information on hazardous or toxic chemicals and that the Department

290 		maintains under this subtitle:



300		(1)	Any environmental organization that is in the State of Maryland:



310		(2)	Any civic or consumer organization that is in the State of 

320			Maryland: and

330		(3)	Any individual who lives:



340			(i)	In a community where a business stores, produces, or

350				locates hazardous or toxic chemicals; or



360			(ii)	In the nearest local community where a business stores,

370				produces, or locates hazardous or toxic chemicals



380	(c)	Whenever the Department receives a written request, under this subtitle,

390		for chemical information lists and material safety data sheets submitted by

400		an employer in accordance with ¤ 5-406 of the Labor and Employment

410 		Article, the Department shall promptly notify the employer of the request.



500	(D)	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PREPARE AN INFORMATIONAL

510	I	NTERNET SITE , BROCHURES, AND OTHER WRITTEN 

520	 	MATERIALS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ADRESSING

530		EXPOSURE TO LEAD PAINT AND OTHER HAZARDOUS OF

540	 	 TOXIC CHEMICALS, INCLUDING DESCRIPTIONS OF:



550		(1)	COMMONLY USED PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN

560			HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC CHEMICALS, AS DEFINED IN ¤ 6-

570	 		501 OF THIS SUBTITILE:



580		(2)	LOCATIONS WHERE THE PRODUCTS MAY BE PRESENT;



590		(3)	SAFE ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS THAT MAY BE USED

600 			FOR THE SAME PURPOSE;



610		(4)	HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THE INDENTIFIED HAZARDOUS

620			OR TOXIC CHEMICALS, AS DEFINED IN ¤ 6-501 OF THIS

630   			SUBTITLE, AND SPECIFIC CONCENTRATIONS THEREOF;



640		(5)	MEASURES TO LIMIT EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS OR 

650 			TOXIC CHEMICALS; AND



660		(6)	STEPS TO TAKE WHEN EXPOSED TO THE HAZARDOUS

670 			OR TOXIC CHEMICALS.



680	(E)	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMPTLY CONSTRUCT THE

690		INFORMATIONAL INTERNET SITE AND PROVIDE THE

700		BROCHURES AND OTHER WRITTEN DOCUMENTS TO ALL 

710	 	INDIVIDUALS AND AGENCIES THAT REQUEST THE 

720	  	INFORMATION.



730	(F)	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP A STATEWIDE PUBLIC

740		INFORMATION CAMPAIGN TO PUBLICIZE THE AVAILABILITY

750	  		OF THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN SUSECTION (D) OF THIS 

760	 		SECTION.



770	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take

780 		effect November 1, 2000.



790  	MANDATES:	Governor Paris Glendening

800			Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

810			Delegate Rudolph Cane

820			Delegate Mary A. Conroy

830			Delegate James W. Hubbard

840			Delegate John Adams Hurson

850			Delegate Shirley Nathan-Pulliam

860			Delegate Nathaniel T. Oaks

870			Delegate George W. Owings

880			Delegate Samuel I. Rosenburg

890			Delegate Mary M. Rosso









Sponsor:		

Jeremiah Kelly

Delegation Chair

Western Maryland College

2 College Hill

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 751-8114

strawman44@hotmail.com