South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 3127

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 5, 2019

H. 3127

Introduced by Reps. Dillard, Henderson-Myers, Clyburn and Weeks

S. Printed 2/5/19--H.    [SEC 2/6/19 11:39 AM]

Read the first time January 8, 2019.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL

RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Joint Resolution (H. 3127) to establish the Mold Abatement and Remediation Study Committee to study the impact of mold in public areas and to ascertain the best method of abatement for mold in public areas, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the joint resolution, as and if amended, by striking all after the title and inserting:

/    Whereas, there is not a state agency that regulates mold remediation; and

Whereas, mold presents a public health issue when present in older public buildings; and

Whereas, aging infrastructure in South Carolina presents an ever-growing opportunity for exposure, especially to young children in public schools; and

Whereas, it is the intent of the General Assembly of South Carolina to study the issue of mold to ascertain policy initiatives to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its most vulnerable citizens. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is created the Mold Abatement and Remediation Study Committee to study the health effects of mold in public areas and to ascertain the best method of abatement for the mold. The study committee shall:

(1)    examine public policy issues relative to mold in public buildings in South Carolina;

(2)    ascertain the impacts on public health with a focus on children in public schools;

(3)    propose policy initiatives to remediate or abate problems with mold, if necessary;

(4)    determine proactive steps to prevent the growth of mold;

(5)    identify best practices regarding how to make public buildings more resilient with regards to flooding events and mold growth; and

(6)    identify best practices regarding mold remediation.

(B)    The study committee must be comprised of three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House. Staff from the Senate and House of Representatives shall assist the study committee.

(C)    The members of the study committee shall seek assistance from state agencies and members of the private sector including, but not limited to, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the State Department of Education, the Association of Counties, the Municipal Association, the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, the Association of General Contractors, Realtors, and Home Builders.

(D)    The study committee shall provide a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2019, at which time the study committee shall dissolve.

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.    /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

DAVID R. HIOTT for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

Prefiled on December 18, 2018

State Expenditure

This bill creates a Mold Abatement and Remediation Study Committee. The committee must study public policy issues related to mold in public buildings in the state, ascertain the impact of mold on public health, and propose policy to remediate, abate and proactively prevent mold in public buildings, among other responsibilities. The committee must provide a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2019, at which time it will dissolve.

The committee will be comprised of three members from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House and three members from the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. The members of the committee will serve without mileage, per diem, or subsistence. Additionally, the staffing for this committee will be provided by the General Assembly and will be managed with existing staff and within existing appropriations. Therefore, the bill does not have an expenditure impact on the General Fund for the Senate or the House of Representatives.

Further, the bill specifies the committee will seek assistance from state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Department of Education. As the committee may choose both whom to seek assistance from and how much assistance to request, the potential impact to the general fund for various state agencies in providing assistance is undetermined.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO ESTABLISH THE MOLD ABATEMENT AND REMEDIATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF MOLD IN PUBLIC AREAS AND TO ASCERTAIN THE BEST METHOD OF ABATEMENT FOR MOLD IN PUBLIC AREAS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE, TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN GOALS FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE, TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A REPORT FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO DISSOLVE THE STUDY COMMITTEE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Whereas, mold presents a public health issue when present in older public buildings and currently no state agency regulates mold remediation; and

Whereas, aging infrastructure in South Carolina presents an ever-growing opportunity for exposure, especially to young children in public schools; and

Whereas, it is the intent of the General Assembly of South Carolina to study the issue of mold to ascertain policy initiatives to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its most vulnerable citizens. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is created the Mold Abatement and Remediation Study Committee to study the health effects of mold in public areas and to ascertain the best method of abatement for the mold. The study committee shall:

(1)    examine public policy issues relative to mold in public buildings in South Carolina;

(2)    ascertain the impacts on public health with a focus on children in public schools;

(3)    propose policy initiatives to remediate or abate problems with mold, if necessary;

(4)    determine proactive steps to prevent the growth of mold in public buildings; and

(5)    identify best practices regarding how to make public buildings more resilient with regards to flooding events and mold growth.

(B)    The study committee must be comprised of three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House. Members of the study committee shall serve without mileage, per diem, or subsistence. Staff from the Senate and House of Representatives shall assist the study committee.

(C)    The members of the study committee shall seek assistance from state agencies and members of the private sector including, but not limited to, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the State Department of Education, the Association of Counties, the Municipal Association, the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, the Association of General Contractors, Realtors, and Home Builders.

(D)    The study committee shall provide a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2019, at which time the study committee shall dissolve.

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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