093_HJ0012

                                     LRB093 06705 AMC 06839 r

 1                       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The presence  of  mold  in  indoor  environments
 3    presents  a  public  health risk to the citizens of Illinois;
 4    and

 5        WHEREAS, Mold in schools, places of employment, and homes
 6    has been shown to adversely affect the  health  of  Illinois'
 7    children and senior citizens; and

 8        WHEREAS,  The adverse health effects of exposure to molds
 9    on the general population and the specific effects of mold on
10    certain  subpopulations,  including  infants,  children,  the
11    elderly, pregnant women,  asthmatics,  allergic  individuals,
12    immune-comprised  individuals,  and  others  are resulting in
13    illness and increased medical costs; and

14        WHEREAS,  The  United  States  Environmental   Protection
15    Agency   has   promulgated  advisory  standards  relating  to
16    permissible levels of mold in indoor environments; and

17        WHEREAS, The  State  of  California  has  passed  an  Act
18    regulating mold in indoor environments, including residential
19    homes and places of employment; and

20        WHEREAS, The Department of Health of the City of New York
21    has also adopted standards regulating mold exposure; and

22        WHEREAS,  Insurance costs in the State of Texas and other
23    states have risen dramatically due to claims relating to mold
24    in homes, businesses, and schools; therefore, be it

25        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
26    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
27    SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created a Joint  Task
28    Force  on  Mold  in  Indoor  Environments  for the purpose of
29    examining   the   mold   issue   in   Illinois   and   making
30    recommendations to the General  Assembly  pertaining  to  the
 
                            -2-      LRB093 06705 AMC 06839 r
 1    regulation of mold in indoor environments in Illinois; and be
 2    it further

 3        RESOLVED,  That  the  Joint  Task Force on Mold in Indoor
 4    Environments   shall   be    comprised    as    follows:    2
 5    co-chairpersons,  each  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly
 6    appointed  one  each  by  the  Speaker  of  the House and the
 7    President of the Senate; 2 spokespersons, each  a  member  of
 8    the  General  Assembly  appointed  one  each  by the Minority
 9    Leader of the House and the Minority Leader  of  the  Senate;
10    the  Director  of  Public Health, or his or her designee; and
11    the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,
12    or his or her designee; and be it further

13        RESOLVED, That  the  co-chairpersons  shall  appoint  the
14    remaining  members,  which  shall  not  exceed  15  and shall
15    represent the following: local  health  authorities;  medical
16    experts  on  the  health  effects of molds; school districts;
17    realtors;  the  insurance  industry;  abatement  contractors;
18    abatement  consultants;  certified   industrial   hygienists;
19    licensed  environmental health practitioners; representatives
20    of   employers;   representatives   of   employees;   tenants
21    organizations; building owner organizations;  and  any  other
22    interested parties; and be it further

23        RESOLVED,  That  the Joint Task Force members shall serve
24    on a voluntary basis and shall be responsible for  any  costs
25    associated  with their participation in the Joint Task Force;
26    and be it further

27        RESOLVED, That the Joint Task Force shall meet  at  least
28    quarterly    and    shall    summarize   its   findings   and
29    recommendations in a report to the General Assembly no  later
30    than June 1, 2004.