Pubdate: Mon, 06 Aug 2012
Source: Daily Reporter, The (Columbus, OH)
Copyright: 2012 The Daily Reporter
Contact:  http://www.sourcenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4774
Author: Tiffany L. Parks

BILL FOCUSES ON PROPERTY REMEDIATION OF FORMER METH LABS

A pair of state senators have partnered to craft a bill that would
establish procedures for the remediation of real property that
previously was used as an illegal meth lab.

"It is important to set uniform state standards for the clean up of
these dangerous sites and clarify responsibilities related to the
remediation of sites used for meth production," said Sen. Frank
LaRose, R-Akron.

LaRose, along with Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, has introduced
Senate Bill 348 into the Ohio General Assembly.

The proposed legislation outlines standards and procedures for
identifying homes that contain meth-related chemicals and notifying
the public of their presence.

If the measure is signed into law, the director of the Ohio Department
of Health would adopt rules that provide for a listing of individuals
certified to inspect and remediate property, including but not limited
to, real property and motor vehicles, on or in which an illegal meth
lab has been found.

The health director would also implement regulations for the
inspection and remediation of property determined to be the site of a
former meth lab.

SB 348 states that if a law enforcement agency discovers an illegal
meth lab on real property, the agency would have to give written
notice of the property's location, including the room number or
location within the building if the laboratory is in a hotel, motel,
apartment building, nursing home or similar establishment, to all of
the following: the owner of record of the real property; the board of
health having jurisdiction over the property; and the public children
services agency having jurisdiction over the property, if it appears
that children are living at the premises.

Upon receiving notice of a discovery of an illegal meth lab, a board
of health would have to declare that the property is a public health
hazard that may not be occupied or transferred until the board
determines that the property is no longer a hazard. The board would be
charged with filing a notice with the recorder of the county where the
property is located identifying the property and declaring it to be a
hazard.

When a board of health determines in accordance with state law that
the property no longer poses a public health hazard, the board would
file a notice with the county recorder reversing its initial notice.

"Together with my colleague, Sen. Beagle, we have been working with
state and local officials, law enforcement and concerned citizens to
draft a bill that will protect Ohioans," LaRose said.

SB 348 also details procedures for the clean-up of meth-related
chemicals, including financial obligations for the costs of such procedures.

The bill calls for the creation of the contaminated property
remediation fund in the state treasury.

The fund would consist of money seized in connection with the
operation of an illegal meth lab. Any funds acquired from the sale of
property taken in connection with the operation of an illegal meth lab
also would be deposited into the remediation fund.

The bill states that money in the fund would be used for the sole
purpose of eliminating the contamination of real property caused by
meth labs.

Under SB 348, the director of the health department would dole out
grants from the fund to municipal corporations, counties and townships.

LaRose said a constituent approached him last year with the idea of
the proposed legislation.

"The goal of this bill is to help protect people from being exposed to
these dangerous chemicals," he said.

The lawmaker went on to say that "even the most cursory research into
this issue" highlights the potential impact the proposal could have on
Ohio communities.

"The need for this legislation was made all too clear just recently in
the tragic death of a 17-month old child from Akron as a result of
being poisoned by meth lab chemicals," he said. "It is key that we
address meth use, production and clean-up in Ohio before more innocent
people suffer from accidental exposure."

SB 348 has gained support from Sens. Capri Cafaro, D-Warren, Shannon
Jones, R-Springboro, and Gayle Manning, R-Ridgeville.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary committee.
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MAP posted-by: Matt