By: Delegate Kipke Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2011
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning

Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Environment – Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water – Study

FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of the Environment jointly to conduct a study, in consultation with certain county boards of health, regarding fluoridation levels in public drinking water in the State and to report their findings and analysis to the General Assembly on or before a certain date; and generally relating to a study of the fluoride levels in drinking water by the Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Environment.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That:

(a) The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of the Environment jointly shall conduct a study, in consultation with county boards of health throughout the State, for purposes of analyzing the proposed recommendation of the federal Department of Health and Human Services to decrease the level of fluoride in public drinking water to 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water.

(b) The study conducted under subsection (a) of this section shall include:

(1) an analysis of the existing levels of fluoride in:

(i) the public water systems of public schools throughout the State; local governments throughout the State; and

(ii) the public water systems of large municipalities and other local governments throughout the State; and

(iii) water that is bottled and sold in the State by a person licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene under § 21–305 of the Health – General Article;

(2) a discussion of the possible adverse health outcomes, if any, of ingesting water with levels of fluoride higher than those recommended under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, including a discussion of any cases of adverse outcomes reported in the State; and

(3) an analysis of positive and adverse impacts on public health linked to the fluoridation of public drinking water, using data collected before and after fluoridation became standard.

(c) On or before September 30, 2012, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of the Environment jointly shall report their findings and analysis to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1246 of the State Government Article.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October 1, 2011.

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