Section 124125.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that childhood lead exposure represents the most significant childhood environmental health problem in the state today; that too little is known about the prevalence, long-term health care costs, severity, and location of these problems in California; that it is well known that the environment is widely contaminated with lead; that excessive lead exposure causes acute and chronic damage to a child's renal system, red blood cells, and developing brain and nervous system; that at least one in every 25 children in the nation has an elevated blood lead level; and that the cost to society of neglecting this problem may be enormous.

The Legislature further finds and declares that knowledge about where and to what extent harmful childhood lead exposures are occurring in the state could lead to the prevention of these exposures, and to the betterment of the health of California's future citizens. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to establish a state Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program within the department to accomplish all of the following:

(a)  To compile information concerning the prevalence, causes, and geographic occurrence of high childhood blood lead levels.

(b)  To identify and target areas of the state where childhood lead exposures are especially significant.

(c)  To analyze information collected pursuant to this article and, where indicated, design and implement a program of medical followup and environmental abatement and followup that will reduce the incidence of excessive childhood lead exposures in California.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1996.)