PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
Monday, December 5, 2016

Cathleen D. Bennett
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

New Jersey Department of Health Proposes Amendments, Repeals, and New Rules Governing Childhood Elevated Blood Lead Levels at N.J.A.C. 8:51 and N.J.A.C. 8:51A

The Child and Adolescent Health Program in the Public Health Services Branch of the New Jersey Department of Health (Department) is proposing amendments, repeals, and new rules governing Elevated Blood Lead Levels at N.J.A.C. 8:51 and N.J.A.C. 8:51A. 

The proposed rulemaking regulates the process through which local governments provide early detection and case management services to children with elevated blood lead levels throughout the State. In addition, the rules provide standards and protocols to local governments for public health interventions and/or abatement of lead hazards to protect the health of children. Finally, the rules govern reporting of children’s blood lead levels by health care facilities and providers, such as physicians and registered nurses.   

The Department proposes to amend these rules consistent with recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Department proposes to amend N.J.A.C. 8:51-1.3(a)3 to update the edition of the publication “Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing” to the 2012 edition. The Department proposes to incorporate the publication, “Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call for Primary Prevention,” by the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, CDC, as new subsection N.J.A.C. 8:51-1.3(a)4. The Department proposes to incorporate the publication, “CDC Response to Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Recommendations in ‘Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call for Primary Prevention’,” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as new subsection N.J.A.C. 8:51-1.3(a)5.  The Department proposes to incorporate by reference the new rules at Appendix L, which would serve to assist local health departments in conducting preliminary environmental evaluations of the homes of children who have been identified as having elevated blood lead levels, as new paragraph N.J.A.C. 8:51-1.3(b)9.

In addition, the Department proposes a new Appendix M, which would summarize the various interventions that shall be taken by local governments in response to children identified with various blood lead levels and serve as a ready reference to aid local health departments and improve public health response and case management services. 

A notice of proposal appears in the December 5, 2016 issue of the New Jersey Register. Interested individuals may gain free online access to the New Jersey Administrative Code and the New Jersey Register at http://lexisnexis.com/njoal, courtesy of LexisNexis®.

The Department will accept written comments on the proposal during a period of public comment, which begins on December 5 and ends on February 3, 2017. For electronic submission, visit http://www.nj.gov/health/legal/ecomments.shtml and follow instructions for filing an official comment no later than February 3, 2017. Address regular U.S.P.S. mail to: Joy L. Lindo, Director, Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance, New Jersey Department of Health, PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360: Address correspondence sent by Courier or Hand Delivery Service to: Joy L. Lindo, Director, Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance, New Jersey Department of Health, 369 South Warren Street, Trenton, NJ  08608. All hard copy correspondence must be marked as having been received by the carrier of record on or before February 3, 2017. The Department does not accept facsimiles as official comments on the notice of proposal.

Last Reviewed: 12/5/2016