SF5170

Purpose

Establish funding to study lead exposure in Dakota County. The bill would provide a grant from the state general fund to support Dakota County Public Health in conducting a community health study on lead exposure among Dakota County residents.

Main provisions

• Funding and recipients:
  • In fiscal year 2027, money is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health.
  • The money is for a grant to the Dakota County board for Dakota County Public Health to run the study.
• Study goals:
  • Identify sources of lead emissions in Dakota County.
  • Determine whether any lead emissions exceeded air quality standards or water quality standards in the previous 24 months.
  • Examine how elevated lead emissions may affect blood lead levels in residents, especially:
  • Children under age six
  • Pregnant women
  • People living within one mile of a lead-emitting source that exceeded air quality standards in the previous 24 months
• Outcomes and actions:
  • Identify steps at the county and state levels to protect residents from exposure to lead and to reduce risks from lead emissions.
• Data and technical assistance:
  • At the request of Dakota County Public Health, the commissioner may provide technical assistance for the study.
  • The commissioner must make available deidentified data on Dakota County residents from the blood lead surveillance system (as defined by state law).

Funding details

• The appropriation is from the general fund for fiscal year 2027.
• The grant is aimed at supporting a community health study on lead exposure.

Changes to existing law

• No new changes to Minnesota law are specified beyond the appropriation and study authorization. The bill focuses on funding and study activities rather than altering current statutory provisions.

Significance and intended impact

• Aims to better understand lead exposure sources and their health effects in Dakota County.
• Seeks to inform protective steps and mitigation strategies at both county and state levels.
• Uses existing surveillance data (deidentified) to assess potential health impacts, especially on young children and pregnant women.

Potential implementation notes

• The study timeframe is tied to fiscal year 2027 funding.
• Data sharing is limited to deidentified information from the Blood Lead Surveillance System, preserving privacy while enabling analysis.

Relevant Terms lead exposure; lead emissions; Dakota County; Dakota County Public Health; air quality standards; water quality standards; blood lead levels; children under age six; pregnant women; one mile; deidentified data; blood lead surveillance system; Minnesota Statutes section 144.9502; general fund; appropriation; fiscal year 2027; technical assistance; community health study; sources of lead emissions; mitigate risks; protect residents.