summary
Introduced
03/03/2016
03/03/2016
In Committee
03/03/2016
03/03/2016
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016 This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to promulgate regulations to update the standards for lead-contaminated dust and lead-contaminated soil, in accordance with health-based standards. The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 is amended to define elevated blood lead level as the lower of: 5 mg/dL (micrograms of lead per deciliter), or the most recent definition for elevated blood lead level or reference range level in children ages 1 through 5 set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill also removes 0-bedroom housing from the definition of target housing. The Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act is amended to direct HUD to promulgate regulations that: require an initial lead-based paint hazard risk assessment before a family with a child under age six occupies certain housing, unless lead-based paint has already been removed; and state that a visual assessment is not sufficient for these purposes. These regulations shall apply to housing receiving federal assistance that was constructed before 1978, but exclude: single-family housing covered by an application for mortgage insurance from the Federal Housing Administration, or multi-family housing covered by such an application but does not receive any other federal housing assistance. HUD regulations shall also require emergency relocation of such families, without placement on a waitlist, penalty, or lapse in assistance, to another unit of covered housing that has no lead-based paint hazards. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on lead hazards in federally assisted housing.
AI Summary
This bill, the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016, aims to protect children from lead poisoning by updating housing safety standards. It directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish new, health-based regulations for lead-contaminated dust and soil. The bill redefines an "elevated blood lead level" to be the lower of 5 micrograms per deciliter or the most current guideline from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for children aged 1-5, which is a critical threshold indicating potential lead exposure. It also removes "0-bedroom housing" from the definition of housing that needs to comply with certain lead-based paint regulations. Furthermore, for housing receiving federal assistance and built before 1978, HUD will be required to implement regulations mandating a lead-based paint hazard risk assessment before a family with a child under six moves in, unless lead has already been removed, and a simple visual inspection will no longer be sufficient. This requirement excludes certain single-family and multi-family housing covered by Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance applications that don't receive other federal housing aid. If lead hazards are found, HUD regulations will also ensure families with young children can be immediately relocated to safe housing without delays or loss of assistance. Finally, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will report to Congress on lead hazards in federally assisted housing to assess current conditions and recommend improvements.
Committee Categories
Housing and Urban Affairs
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (on 03/03/2016)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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