Fungal Contamination Review Panel And Research Program - - CA Health And Safety

Section § 26200

This law requires the California Research Bureau, with help from the State Department of Health Services, to study and report on how fungi affect indoor environments. A review panel of diverse professionals, including health officers, environmental health directors, and experts in fungi, medicine, mold testing, industrial hygiene, and engineering, will be organized to help produce the study's content.

(a) The California Research Bureau, in consultation with the State Department of Health Services, shall perform a study and publish findings on fungal contamination affecting indoor environments, in accordance with this chapter.

(b) The California Research Bureau shall organize meetings of a review panel to assist in the preparation of appropriate content for the study.

(c) The California Research Bureau shall appoint to the review panel a diverse group of professionals including, but not limited to, representatives of the following:

(1) Health officers.

(2) Environmental health directors.

(3) Experts on the health effects of fungi.

(4) Medical experts.

(5) Mold testing experts.

(6) Industrial hygienists.

(7) Engineers.

fungal contamination indoor environments California Research Bureau State Department of Health Services review panel health officers environmental health directors fungi health effects medical experts mold testing experts industrial hygienists engineers study publication consultation professional diversity

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 550, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2002.)

Section § 26201

This law involves a review panel that looks at various aspects of fungal contamination in indoor settings. They focus on areas like medical and public health issues, checking and monitoring contamination, cleaning and preventing future problems, educational resources, and communication about hazards. They can also investigate any other relevant areas they identify.

The review panel shall examine the following areas relating to fungal contamination in indoor environments:

(a) Medical and public health.

(b) Evaluation and monitoring.

(c) Remediation and prevention.

(d) Educational materials.

(e) Hazard communication.

(f) Any other area identified by the review panel.

fungal contamination indoor environments medical impact public health contamination monitoring remediation contamination prevention educational resources hazard communication review panel health safety environmental hazards contamination evaluation indoor air quality fungus-related issues

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 550, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2002.)

Section § 26202

This law outlines the responsibilities of a panel to examine various aspects of fungal contamination. They are to evaluate health effects from fungi exposure, review practices for identifying fungal issues, and assess the suitability of commercial methods for detecting fungi in buildings. They also need to explore ways to prevent and fix fungal problems indoors, providing practical advice for building managers and the public. The panel is to make recommendations about communicating risks to specific groups, like workers in risky jobs, and suggest educational resources about fungi and indoor air quality for local officials. The panel can address any other relevant areas as they see fit.

The panel shall review and, to the extent resources and expertise permit, make findings on all of the following:

(a) The health effects of exposure to fungi, based on a review of the literature addressing immunology, infectious disease, and medical evaluation.

(b) The practices for assessing fungal contamination, including the use of visual inspection, surface sampling, air monitoring, and the proper analysis of environmental samples.

(c) To the extent feasible, the appropriateness of commercially available methods for identifying fungal contamination of building components including, but not limited to, walls, ventilation systems, and support beams.

(d) The options for preventing and remediating fungal contamination in indoor environments. The findings are intended as a practical guide regarding options for building managers, homeowners, and members of the general public who may have concerns about fungal contamination in living and working environments.

(e) Recommendations on hazard communication for distinct subpopulations, including workers employed in high-risk occupations.

(f) The development of a recommended reading list related to molds, their health effects, their impacts on indoor air quality, and related topics for local government officials, including environmental health officers.

(g) Any additional topical areas deemed appropriate by the review panel.

fungal contamination health effects of fungi immunology infectious disease medical evaluation fungal assessment practices visual inspection sampling methods air monitoring environmental sample analysis building component analysis fungal remediation hazard communication high-risk occupations indoor air quality educational resources for government officials public health guidance

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 550, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2002.)

Section § 26203

This section requires the California Research Bureau to submit a study's findings to the state legislature and the Director of Health Services by January 1, 2003. The goal is to provide information to help the State Department of Health Services set standards and guidelines for dealing with fungal contamination in indoor environments. This information might also aid department programs relating to fungal contamination, especially if Senate Bill 732 is enacted, which pertains to establishing these guidelines.

(a) By January 1, 2003, the California Research Bureau shall submit to the Legislature and the Director of Health Services the published findings of the study.

(b)

(1) The findings may provide relevant information to the State Department of Health Services for the purpose of establishing standards and guidelines on fungal contamination affecting indoor environments pursuant to Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 26100).

(2) This subdivision may serve as a source of information for department programs relating to fungal contamination, including those provisions that become operative if Senate Bill 732 is enacted and adds Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 26100).

California Research Bureau Legislature presentation Health Services Director study findings fungal contamination indoor environments standards and guidelines State Department of Health Services Chapter 18 Senate Bill 732 health department programs fungus standards contamination guidelines environmental health public health policy

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 550, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2002.)

Section § 26204

This section specifies that $25,000 from a specific budget item (Item 6120-011-0001 of the Budget Act of 2001) is allocated for hiring outside researchers. These researchers are contracted to carry out work related to this chapter.

Of the funds identified in provision (2) of Item 6120-011-0001 of the Budget Act of 2001, twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) shall be made available to be used for contracts for outside researchers pursuant to this chapter.

Budget Act of 2001 fund allocation outside researchers contract funding Item 6120-011-0001 research funding chapter provisions fund usage research contracts budget allocation for research

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 550, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2002.)