Boccieri calls for renewed money for Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund

Staff report

COLUMBUS

State Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th, has called for renewed funding for the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund, a reserve created in 2003 to support efforts to shutter or renovate lead-contaminated homes and enhance lead screenings of at-risk children.

The Plain Dealer in Cleveland recently reported the state fund has sat empty since it was established.

“This fund could be a critical part of the long-term fix for our current water-contamination problems,” Boccieri said. “We are rightfully focused on executing the short-term fix of helping residents get access to clean water and screening tests, but we still desperately need proactive initiatives to make sure that we’re protecting our communities into the future,” he added.

Ohio’s $3.8 million overall budget for lead-contamination programs is supported primarily through federal grants.

In light of the Sebring water-contamination crisis, Boccieri has suggested tapping into the state’s $2 billion Rainy Day Fund to revive revenue for lead-poisoning prevention.