AB 1316 Summary

• Expands the definition of "lead poisoning" to include concentrations of lead in arterial and cord blood, in addition to venous blood.

• Requires the State Department of Public Health to adopt regulations by July 1, 2019, establishing risk factors for childhood lead poisoning screening, considering environmental factors such as homes built before 1978, proximity to former smelters, freeways, and other lead contamination sources.

• Mandates the Department of Public Health to post annual progress reports on its website beginning March 1, 2019, evaluating progress in identifying children with high blood lead levels and listing census tracts with elevated rates.

• Requires health insurers offering group disability insurance to cover blood lead screening for children at risk for lead poisoning, as determined by health care providers using applicable state regulations.

• Establishes that fees from the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund may not be used to pay for blood lead screening, and requires the Department to use an electronic database to track laboratory blood lead reports and manage lead-exposed children.