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. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt