HF4850

Purpose

• To provide funding to study lead exposure in Dakota County and to identify ways to protect residents from lead-related risks.

Main Provisions

• Funding and grant:

  • In fiscal year 2027, a general fund appropriation is made to the commissioner of health to finance a grant to the Dakota County board for Dakota County Public Health.
  • The grant supports a community health study on lead exposure among Dakota County residents.

• Study scope and topics:

  • The study may examine sources of lead emissions in Dakota County.
  • It may determine whether lead emissions have exceeded air quality standards or water quality standards for lead at any time in the previous 24 months.
  • It may assess how elevated lead emissions impact blood lead levels among county residents, with emphasis on:
  • Children under age six
  • Pregnant women
  • People living within one mile of a source of lead emissions that exceeded air quality standards in the previous 24 months

• Outcomes and actions:

  • The study will identify necessary steps at both the county and state levels to protect residents from exposure to elevated lead emissions and to mitigate associated risks.

• Technical assistance and data sharing:

  • If requested by Dakota County Public Health, the commissioner may provide technical assistance for the study.
  • The commissioner must make deidentified data on Dakota County residents from the blood lead surveillance system available under Minnesota Statutes section 144.9502.

Data and Privacy

• Deidentified data from the blood lead surveillance system may be shared with Dakota County Public Health upon request.
• Data sharing is to occur under the authority of the existing statute cited (Minnesota Statutes § 144.9502).

Fiscal and Administrative Details

• Source of funds: General fund.
• Term: Fiscal year 2027.
• Beneficiary: Dakota County Board for Dakota County Public Health.

Significance and Potential Impact

• Establishes a formal, funded inquiry into local lead exposure and its health effects, with a focus on vulnerable groups (young children, pregnant women) and residents near emission sources.
• May inform future county and state public health actions to reduce lead exposure and comply with air and water quality standards.

How it interacts with existing law

• Creates a new appropriation for a local health study.
• Uses an existing mechanism to provide deidentified blood lead data to the county public health agency on request, signaling enhanced data access for local public health planning.

Important context

• Focus areas include lead emissions sources, adherence to air and water quality standards for lead, and health indicators such as blood lead levels.

Relevant Terms - lead exposure - lead emissions - air quality standards for lead - water quality standards for lead - blood lead levels - children under age six - pregnant women - within one mile of a lead emission source - deidentified data - blood lead surveillance system - Minnesota Statutes section 144.9502 - Dakota County Public Health - Dakota County Board - general fund - fiscal year 2027 - grant - technical assistance