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|
SPONSOR: |
Taylor, JP |
DATE TYPED: |
1/28/02 |
HB |
32 |
||
|
SHORT TITLE: |
Safe Building Conference |
SB |
|
||||
|
|
ANALYST: |
Dunbar |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
|
FY02 |
FY03 |
FY02 |
FY03 |
|
|
|
$25.0 |
|
|
|
Non-Recurring |
General Fund |
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Department of Health (DOH)
General Services Department (GSD)
Synopsis
of Bill
House
Bill 32 appropriates $25.0 from the General Fund to the Governor’s Committee on
Concerns of the Handicapped to provide support for a safe building conference
emphasizing materials appropriate for persons with multi-chemical sensitivities
(MCS). The bill includes an emergency
clause.
Significant
Issues
A
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) information brochure published under the
auspices of New Mexico’s Department of Health, Environment Department, State
Department of Education and the NM Governor’s Committee on concerns of the
Handicapped, states “Many people have developed MCS
after being exposed to chemicals in a newly built home, recently remodeled office,
or following a pesticide or solvent exposure.
Others slowly become ill over a period of years." People who are chemically sensitive
are made sick by exposures to things like: pesticides, perfumes, tobacco smoke,
new carpets, new paint, building materials, and many cleaning or laundry
products.
HB 32 would fund a conference to discuss and identify suitable
building materials appropriate to address the needs of people with multi-chemical
sensitivities.
The appropriation of $25.0 contained in this
bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered
balance remaining at the end of FY03 shall revert to the general fund. The bill contains an emergency clause.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
MCS
is a growing public health issue that affects people of all ages, races and
economic backgrounds. In 1997, a survey
conducted by the Department of Health found that 16% of the respondents
reported being unusually sensitive to everyday chemicals (e.g. household cleaning
products, paints, perfumes and insect sprays) and 2% reported that had been
diagnosed with MCS. People with MCS
experience a range of symptoms and include: headaches, trouble concentrating,
nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, difficulty
breathing, irregular heart beat and seizures.
According
to DOH Multiple Chemical Sensitivities is recognized as a potentially disabling
condition by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
It is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on a case by
case basis. This means that employers,
schools, hospitals, stores, hotels, and other public places must provide reasonable
accommodations for people with MCS who qualify as having a disability under the
ADA.
DOH
and GSD support a conference on safe building practices.
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