Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Env topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee recommends 'inexpedient to legislate' on bill to make second Thursday in October Children’s Environmental Health Day
Summary
The committee heard testimony from the Department of Environmental Services and other proponents but voted to recommend ITL (inexpedient to legislate), saying existing proclamations and agency activities already support observance
The Executive Departments and Administration Committee on April 16 recommended that Senate Bill 184, which would designate the second Thursday in October as Children’s Environmental Health Day and direct the governor to encourage local observances, is inexpedient to legislate.
Max Taylor, legislative aide to Senator Ricciardi, introduced the bill and said it would establish an annual gubernatorial proclamation encouraging cities and towns to observe the day and raise awareness about environmental exposures that disproportionately affect children, such as private-well contamination and radon.
Karen Craver (testimony spelled in transcript as Krever/Craver), administrator of the Environmental Health Program at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES), testified the department already recognizes National Children’s Environmental Health Day through social media and partnership activities and described DES programs that target children’s exposures, such as well-water testing outreach, radon awareness, the Soil SHOP lead-screening program, and a lead-in-drinking-water remediation program.
Committee members said they supported the goal but questioned whether legislating the date would improve observance. One member argued that state proclamations and agency efforts already sustain awareness and that putting the day into statute could lessen active engagement by stakeholders who now pursue proclamations and events. After discussion the committee moved for a recommendation of ITL (inexpedient to legislate); the roll-call recorded the committee’s recommendation as ITL.
No statutory observance will be enacted by this committee at this time; witnesses and DES said the agency will continue existing outreach to promote children’s environmental health and awareness.
