The following bill – the Fluoridation Choice Act – has been proposed by Pennsylvania Representative Dan Surra, D-Kersey. The bill has been proposed in response to the Fluoridation Act proposed by Rep. Tigue, which would mandate fluoridation for every water supply in the state serving over 500 people.

To learn more about both of these bills contact Bill Smedley, executive director of GreenWatch, at (bsmedley@kcnet.org) or Ellie Rudolph of the Pennsylvania Environmental Network (PEN) (tel: 412-828-5096).

(Note: Pennsylvania is the only state where it is considered illegal (by the courts) to remove fluoride from the drinking water. Learn more at www.penweb.org/issues/fluoride/lawandcourts/index.html)

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
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AN ACT

Providing local choice for fluoridation of public water

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Fluoridation Choice Act.

Section 2. Purpose.

It is the purpose of this act to allow municipalities and public water authorities the option of removing fluoride or fluoridation systems from public water supplies in this Commonwealth.

Section 3. Local fluoridation option.

Notwithstanding any other law, a municipality or public water authority may remove an existing water fluoridation system from a public water system.

Section 4. Notification.

At least 60 days prior to taking action, a municipality or public water authority which intends to cease adding fluoride to a public water supply must communicate its intent in writing to all customers served by that water supply and to the Department of Environmental Protection. The municipality or public water authority shall hold a public hearing on the proposal within 30 days after notifying the public.

Section 5. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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