Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H7191 2026 -- H 7191 ======== LC003940 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, J. Brien, Chippendale, Nardone, Place, Hull, Azzinaro, and Shanley Date Introduced: January 21, 2026 Referred To: House Health & Human Services It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 23-24.6-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-24.6 entitled Lead 2 Poisoning Prevention Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 23-24.6-7. Screening by health care providers. 4 (a) The department shall promulgate regulations establishing the means by which and the 5 intervals at which children under six (6) years of age shall be screened for lead poisoning. The 6 department is also authorized to require screening for lead poisoning in other high risk groups. 7 (b) Each physician registered or licensed by Rhode Island or any agency of Rhode Island 8 shall screen children under six (6) years of age for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the 9 methods specified in the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a). Each licensed, registered 10 or approved health care facility serving children under six (6) years of age, including but not limited 11 to hospitals, clinics, and health maintenance organizations, shall take appropriate steps to ensure 12 that their patients receive screening for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods 13 specified in these regulations. 14 (c) All health care programs funded in whole or in part with state money and having child 15 health components shall include, require, and/or provide for screening children under six (6) years 16 of age for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods specified in the regulations 17 promulgated under this section. 18 (d) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents of the child object to the 19 child undergoing blood lead screening on the grounds that the screening conflicts with their 1 religious tenets and practices. 2 (e) All blood samples taken by physicians or other health care providers licensed in Rhode 3 Island or by licensed, registered, or approved health care facilities in Rhode Island from children 4 under the age of six (6) years for the purpose of screening for blood lead level shall be sent to either 5 the state laboratory in the department of health or a clinical laboratory, as defined in § 23-16.2-2, 6 that is operated by an entity incorporated in the State of Rhode Island, for laboratory analysis. 7 (f) The department shall, at least annually, analyze and summarize all of the lead screening 8 information provided by physicians, health care facilities, and laboratories and provide this 9 information to all other local and state agencies involved with case management and lead hazard 10 reduction. An analysis and summary of the data shall also be made available, at least annually, to 11 the health care community, to the general assembly, and the general public in a format that is easily 12 understandable to non-technical readers. 13 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC003940 ======== LC003940 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACT *** 1 This act would allow a clinical laboratory, that is incorporated in the State of Rhode Island, 2 to analyze blood samples, from children under the age of six (6) years, for blood lead levels. 3 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC003940 ======== LC003940 - Page 3 of 3
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