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H.B. 6

             1     

STANDARDS FOR ILLEGAL DRUG LAB

             2     
DECONTAMINATION

             3     
2001 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: A. Lamont Tyler

             6      This act modifies the Environmental Quality Code to create the Illegal Drug Manufacturing
             7      and Storage Site Decontamination Act. Under this new act, the local health authorities will
             8      oversee the identification and decontamination of controlled substances manufacturing sites.
             9      This act provides for notification to the local health department by a law enforcement agency
             10      when a drug lab site is found. The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board will
             11      have rulemaking authority to set standards and license inspectors and contractors to
             12      decontaminate sites. This act will take effect on July 1, 2001.
             13      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             14      AMENDS:
             15          26A-1-114, as last amended by Chapter 345, Laws of Utah 1998
             16      ENACTS:
             17          19-6-901, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             18          19-6-902, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             19          19-6-903, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             20          19-6-904, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             21          19-6-905, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             22          19-6-906, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             23          19-6-907, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             24      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             25          Section 1. Section 19-6-901 is enacted to read:
             26     
Part 9. Illegal Drug Manufacturing and Storage Site Decontamination Act

             27          19-6-901. Title.


             28          This part is known as the "Illegal Drug Manufacturing and Storage Site Decontamination
             29      Act."
             30          Section 2. Section 19-6-902 is enacted to read:
             31          19-6-902. Definitions.
             32          As used in this part:
             33          (1) "Authorized contractor" means a person or firm who decontaminates, demolishes, or
             34      disposes of contaminated property as required by this part and who is certified by the Utah Solid
             35      and Hazardous Waste Control Board as provided in Section 19-6-906 .
             36          (2) "Board" means a local board of health as established under Section 26A-1-109 .
             37          (3) "Certified inspector" means a person who is certified by the Utah Solid and Hazardous
             38      Waste Control Board to perform inspections in accordance with Section 19-6-906 .
             39          (4) "Contaminated" or "contamination" means polluted by hazardous materials so that the
             40      property is unfit for human habitation or use due to immediate or long-term health hazards.
             41      Property that at one time was contaminated but has been satisfactorily decontaminated according
             42      to procedures and standards established by the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board
             43      is not "contaminated."
             44          (5) "Hazardous materials" has the same meaning as "hazardous or dangerous materials"
             45      as that term is defined in Section 58-37d-3 . For purposes of this part, "hazardous materials" shall
             46      include illegally manufactured controlled substances.
             47          (6) "Health officer" means a local health officer authorized under Title 26A, Local Health
             48      Authorities.
             49          (7) "Property" means any property, site, structure, part of a structure, or the grounds
             50      surrounding the structure which is involved in the illegal manufacture or storage of hazardous
             51      materials. This includes but is not limited to single-family residences, out buildings, garages, units
             52      of multiplexes, condominiums, apartment buildings, warehouses, hotels, motels, boats, motor
             53      vehicles, trailers, manufactured housing, or any shop, or booth.
             54          Section 3. Section 19-6-903 is enacted to read:
             55          19-6-903. Local health authority regulations -- Exception.
             56          (1) Local health departments may establish regulations in accordance with Title 26A,
             57      Local Health Authorities, concerning the posting of notices, notification of property owners,
             58      hearings, and appeals.


             59          (2) Local health departments regulations shall require that those who inspect or
             60      decontaminate property shall be certified under the provisions of Section 19-6-906 , however an
             61      exception shall be made for an owner of record who indicates his intention to decontaminate his
             62      property personally.
             63          Section 4. Section 19-6-904 is enacted to read:
             64          19-6-904. Reporting -- Notice -- Duties of local health officer.
             65          (1) Whenever a law enforcement agency has lawfully entered property and has reason to
             66      believe that property has been contaminated by hazardous materials related to the illegal
             67      manufacturing or consumption of controlled substances, the agency shall report the suspected
             68      contamination to the local health officer within 24 hours.
             69          (2) The local health officer shall:
             70          (a) proceed under regulations established by the local health department pertaining to the
             71      posting of notices, notification of property owners, hearings, and appeals;
             72          (b) report property determined to be contaminated to the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste
             73      Control Board; and
             74          (c) provide information to the property owner concerning requirements for inspection,
             75      decontamination, and disposal of contaminated debris.
             76          (3) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board shall keep a list of contaminated
             77      properties and make the list available upon request. The list shall be promptly updated to remove
             78      those properties which have been decontaminated according to standards established under Section
             79      19-6-907 .
             80          Section 5. Section 19-6-905 is enacted to read:
             81          19-6-905. Municipality or county options.
             82          (1) If the local health officer does not receive a timely response from the owner of
             83      contaminated property or the owner notifies him that he intends to abandon the property, the local
             84      health officer shall notify the municipality, or county for unincorporated areas, in which the
             85      contaminated property is located. For the purposes of this section, "timely" means a period of not
             86      less than 14 days, but may be longer in accordance with local health department regulations.
             87          (2) The municipality or county may take action to:
             88          (a) bring an action in public nuisance against the property in accordance with the law;
             89          (b) decontaminate the property under the provisions of this chapter; or


             90          (c) demolish the property under existing county or municipal ordinance.
             91          (3) The municipality or county shall notify all persons whose interest in the property is
             92      recorded in the records of the recorder's office of the county in which the property is located of its
             93      intent to take action with regard to the property.
             94          (4) A municipality or county may not bring an action in public nuisance, decontaminate,
             95      or demolish property pursuant to this section until all procedures granting the right of notice and
             96      the opportunity to appeal have been exhausted.
             97          (5) The municipality or county shall use a certified contractor if property is
             98      decontaminated, demolished, or removed under this section.
             99          Section 6. Section 19-6-906 is enacted to read:
             100          19-6-906. Certification of contractors and inspectors -- Denial, suspension, or
             101      revocation of certificate -- Duties of Department of Health and Utah Solid and Hazardous
             102      Waste Control Board.
             103          (1) After July 1, 2002, an inspector or a contractor may not perform inspections,
             104      decontamination, demolition, or disposal work at a property determined to be contaminated under
             105      this part unless issued a certificate by the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board.
             106          (2) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board in consultation with the Utah
             107      Department of Health shall establish performance and certification standards for inspectors and
             108      contractors by rule in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
             109      Act.
             110          (3) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board in consultation with the
             111      Department of Health shall train and test, or may approve courses to train and test, inspectors and
             112      contractors and their employees on the essential elements in assessing and inspecting property used
             113      as an illegal drug manufacturing or storage site to determine:
             114          (a) hazard reduction measures needed;
             115          (b) techniques for adequately reducing contaminants;
             116          (c) use of personal protective equipment;
             117          (d) methods for proper demolition, removal, and disposal of contaminated property,
             118      including preparation of work plans for decontamination; and
             119          (e) relevant federal and state regulations.
             120          (4) Upon successful completion of the training and testing, the inspector, contractor, or


             121      their employees shall be certified.
             122          (5) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board in consultation with the
             123      Department of Health shall require the successful completion of annual refresher courses provided
             124      or approved by the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board for the continued certification
             125      of inspectors and contractors.
             126          (6) (a) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board shall provide for reciprocal
             127      certification of any individual trained to engage in decontamination, demolition, or disposal work
             128      in another state when the prior training is shown to be substantially similar to the training required
             129      by the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board.
             130          (b) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board may require individuals to take
             131      an examination or refresher course before certification.
             132          (7) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board may deny, suspend, or revoke a
             133      certificate for failure to comply with the requirements of this part or any rule adopted pursuant to
             134      this part. A certificate may be denied, suspended, or revoked on any of the following grounds:
             135          (a) failure to perform decontamination, demolition, or disposal work under the supervision
             136      of trained and certified personnel;
             137          (b) failure to perform work that meets the requirements of the Utah Solid and Hazardous
             138      Waste Control Board;
             139          (c) failure to properly dispose of contaminated materials; or
             140          (d) the certificate was obtained by error, misrepresentation, or fraud.
             141          (8) Any contractor or inspector who violates any provision of this part, or any rule, order,
             142      certificate or other requirement issued or adopted under this part, is subject in a civil proceeding
             143      to the penalties found in Subsection 19-6-113 (2).
             144          (9) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board shall set fees in accordance with
             145      Section 63-38-3.2 for the issuance and renewal of certificates, the administration of examinations,
             146      and for the review of training courses.
             147          (10) Fees collected under Subsection (9) shall be deposited in the General Fund as
             148      dedicated credits for the administration of this section.
             149          Section 7. Section 19-6-907 is enacted to read:
             150          19-6-907. Rules and standards -- Authority to develop.
             151          (1) The Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board, in accordance with Title 63,


             152      Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, shall make rules in consultation with the
             153      Department of Health and local health officers:
             154          (a) to carry out the provisions of Sections 19-6-906 ;
             155          (b) providing standards and best management practices for the inspection and
             156      decontamination of property, and disposal of contaminated debris under this part;
             157          (c) determining appropriate methods for the testing of ground water, surface water, soil,
             158      and septic tanks; and
             159          (d) to determine when testing of ground water, surface water, soil, and septic tanks may
             160      be required.
             161          (2) The Departments of Health and Environmental Quality shall provide technical
             162      assistance to local health boards and officers to carry out their duties under this part.
             163          (3) All rules developed under this part shall be consistent with other state and federal
             164      environmental requirements.
             165          Section 8. Section 26A-1-114 is amended to read:
             166           26A-1-114. Powers and duties of departments.
             167          (1) A local health department may:
             168          (a) enforce state laws, local ordinances, department rules, and local health department
             169      standards and regulations relating to public health and sanitation, including the plumbing code
             170      adopted by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing under Section 58-56-4 and
             171      under Title 26, Chapter 15a, Food Safety Manager Certification Act;
             172          (b) establish, maintain, and enforce isolation and quarantine, and exercise physical control
             173      over property and over individuals as the local health department finds necessary for the protection
             174      of the public health;
             175          (c) establish and maintain medical, environmental, occupational, and other laboratory
             176      services considered necessary or proper for the protection of the public health;
             177          (d) establish and operate reasonable health programs or measures not in conflict with state
             178      law that:
             179          (i) are necessary or desirable for the promotion or protection of the public health and the
             180      control of disease; or
             181          (ii) may be necessary to ameliorate the major risk factors associated with the major causes
             182      of injury, sickness, death, and disability in the state;


             183          (e) close theaters, schools, and other public places and prohibit gatherings of people when
             184      necessary to protect the public health;
             185          (f) abate nuisances or eliminate sources of filth [and], infectious and communicable
             186      diseases, and chemical contamination affecting the public health and bill the owner or other person
             187      in charge of the premises upon which this nuisance occurs for the cost of abatement;
             188          (g) make necessary sanitary and health investigations and inspections on its own initiative
             189      or in cooperation with the Department of Health or Environmental Quality, or both, as to any
             190      matters affecting the public health;
             191          (h) (i) establish and collect appropriate fees;
             192          (ii) accept, use, and administer all federal, state, or private donations or grants of funds,
             193      property, services, or materials for public health purposes; and
             194          (iii) make agreements not in conflict with state law that are conditional to receiving a
             195      donation or grant;
             196          (i) prepare, publish, and disseminate information necessary to inform and advise the public
             197      concerning:
             198          (i) the health and wellness of the population, specific hazards, and risk factors that may
             199      adversely affect the health and wellness of the population; and
             200          (ii) specific activities individuals and institutions can engage in to promote and protect the
             201      health and wellness of the population;
             202          (j) investigate the causes of morbidity and mortality;
             203          (k) issue notices and orders necessary to carry out this part;
             204          (l) conduct studies to identify injury problems, establish injury control systems, develop
             205      standards for the correction and prevention of future occurrences, and provide public information
             206      and instruction to special high risk groups;
             207          (m) cooperate with boards created under Section 19-1-106 to enforce laws and rules within
             208      the jurisdiction of the boards; and
             209          (n) cooperate with the state health department, the Department of Corrections, the
             210      Administrative Office of the Courts, the Division of Youth Corrections, and the Crime Victims
             211      Reparations Board to conduct testing for HIV infection of convicted sexual offenders and any
             212      victims of a sexual offense.
             213          (2) The local health department shall:


             214          (a) establish programs or measures to promote and protect the health and general wellness
             215      of the people within the boundaries of the local health department;
             216          (b) investigate infectious and other diseases of public health importance and implement
             217      measures to control the causes of epidemic and communicable diseases and other conditions
             218      significantly affecting the public health which may include involuntary testing of convicted sexual
             219      offenders for the HIV infection pursuant to Section 76-5-502 and voluntary testing of victims of
             220      sexual offenses for HIV infection pursuant to Section 76-5-503 ;
             221          (c) cooperate with the department in matters pertaining to the public health and in the
             222      administration of state health laws; and
             223          (d) coordinate implementation of environmental programs to maximize efficient use of
             224      resources by developing with the Department of Environmental Quality a Comprehensive
             225      Environmental Service Delivery Plan that:
             226          (i) recognizes that the Department of Environmental Quality and local health departments
             227      are the foundation for providing environmental health programs in the state;
             228          (ii) delineates the responsibilities of the department and each local health department for
             229      the efficient delivery of environmental programs using federal, state, and local authorities,
             230      responsibilities, and resources;
             231          (iii) provides for the delegation of authority and pass through of funding to local health
             232      departments for environmental programs, to the extent allowed by applicable law, identified in the
             233      plan, and requested by the local health department; and
             234          (iv) is reviewed and updated annually.
             235          (3) The local health department has the following duties regarding public and private
             236      schools within its boundaries:
             237          (a) enforce all ordinances, standards, and regulations pertaining to the public health of
             238      persons attending public and private schools;
             239          (b) exclude from school attendance any person, including teachers, who is suffering from
             240      any communicable or infectious disease, whether acute or chronic, if the person is likely to convey
             241      the disease to those in attendance;
             242          (c) (i) make regular inspections of the health-related condition of all school buildings and
             243      premises;
             244          (ii) report the inspections on forms furnished by the department to those responsible for


             245      the condition and provide instructions for correction of any conditions that impair or endanger the
             246      health or life of those attending the schools; and
             247          (iii) provide a copy of the report to the department at the time the report is made.
             248          (4) If those responsible for the health-related condition of the school buildings and
             249      premises do not carry out any instructions for corrections provided in a report in Subsection (3)(c),
             250      the local health board shall cause the conditions to be corrected at the expense of the persons
             251      responsible.
             252          (5) The local health department may exercise incidental authority as necessary to carry out
             253      the provisions and purposes of this part.
             254          Section 9. Effective date.
             255          This act takes effect on July 1, 2001.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 10-4-00 10:29 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


Committee Note

The Judiciary Interim Committee recommended this bill.


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