REFERENCE TITLE: blood testing; perfluorinated chemicals; appropriation

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2022

SB 1696

Introduced by

Senator Gonzales

AN ACT

Amending title 36, chapter 1, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-149; appropriating monies; relating to the department of health services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 36, chapter 1, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-149, to read:

START_STATUTE36-149. Perfluorinated chemicals; blood testing; reporting requirement

A. The department shall develop and implement a program to provide blood testing for persons who are exposed to perfluorinated chemicals through private or public water supplies. The cost of the blood tests shall be covered by this state if any of the following applies:

1. There is reason to believe or laboratory data demonstrates that the person has been exposed to a drinking water supply that exceeds the current applicable groundwater or drinking water criteria.

2. The department previously denied the person's request for blood testing for perfluorinated chemicals because the person's public or private water supply did not exceed the current applicable groundwater or drinking water criteria.

3. The person lives in a city or town where there has been a suspected release of perfluorinated chemicals into the air or into the groundwater or drinking water.

4. The person lives in a city or town where perfluorinated chemicals have been detected in the drinking water supply.

B. If a city or town has been exposed to concentrations of perfluorinated chemicals that exceed a total of fifty parts per trillion or the current ambient groundwater quality standard prescribed in rule, whichever is lower, in relation to a known or suspected release, the department shall assess and report to the public the prevalence and incidence of indications known or suspected to be associated with exposure to perfluorinated chemicals within that exposed population, including kidney, liver or testicular cancer, low birth weight, miscarriages, ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease or cancer.

Sec. 2. Appropriation; department of health services; perfluorinated chemical testing; exemption

A. The sum of $300,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2022-2023 to the department of health services for the purposes of section 36-149, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to the lapsing of appropriations.

Sec. 3. Effective date

This act is effective from and after December 31, 2022.