§ 23-24.6-4. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Childhood lead poisoning" means a confirmed venous blood lead level, measured in micrograms of lead per deciliter of whole blood, established by rule by the Rhode Island department of health based on the best available information about the effects of elevated blood lead levels.

(2) "Comprehensive environmental lead inspection" means the inspection of any structure or premises for the presence of lead in various media and includes sampling as may be necessary or expedient in order to determine compliance in the structure or premises with standards for being lead safe or lead free.

(3) "Department" means the state department of health.

(4) "Director" means the director of health.

(5) "Dwelling" means any enclosed space which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.

(6) "Dwelling unit" means any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, and eating.

(7) "Environment intervention blood lead level" means a confirmed concentration, in a person under six (6) years of age, of lead in whole blood of greater than or equal to twenty (20) micrograms per deciliter for a single test or for fifteen (15) to nineteen (19) micrograms per deciliter for two (2) tests taken at least three (3) months apart or as defined by the department consistent with regulations adopted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(8) "Environmental lead hazard reduction" means activities undertaken by or on behalf of a property owner in order to achieve lead free or lead safe status pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.

(9) "Inspection" means the inspection, other than a comprehensive environmental lead inspection, of any structure or premises undertaken to determine compliance with the requirements of this chapter or with orders issued pursuant to this chapter.

(10) "Insurer" means every medical service corporation, hospital service corporation, health maintenance organization, or other insurance company offering and/or insuring health services; the term includes any entity defined as an insurer under § 42-62-4.

(11) "Lead contractor" means any person or entity engaged in lead hazard reduction as a business and includes consultants who design, perform, oversee, or evaluate lead hazard reduction projects undertaken pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.

(12) "Lead exposure hazard" means a condition that presents a clear and significant health risk to occupants of the dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises, particularly where there are children under the age of six (6) years.

(13) "Lead free" means that a dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises either contains no lead or contains lead in amounts less than the maximum acceptable environmental lead levels established by department of health regulations.

(14) "Lead hazard reduction" means any action or actions designed to reduce exposure to toxic levels of lead which impose an unacceptable risk of exposure in any dwelling or dwelling unit, where a child under the age of six (6) years, with environmental intervention blood lead level or greater resides, or on any premises and may include, but is not limited to: repair, enclosure, encapsulation, or removal of lead based paint and/or lead contaminated dust, soil or drinking water; relocation of occupants; and cleanup measures or ongoing maintenance measures, which may include activities and/or measures that do not present an undue risk to children under age six (6) and can be performed by, or on behalf of, the property owner, without the person performing such activities being licensed or certified.

(15) "Lead safe" means that a dwelling, dwelling unit, or premises has undergone sufficient lead hazard reduction to ensure that no significant environmental lead hazard is present and includes but is not limited to covering and encapsulation.

(16) "Occupant" means any person who legally resides in, or regularly uses, a dwelling, dwelling unit, or structure; provided, however, that a guest of any age shall not be considered an occupant for the purposes of this chapter.

(17) "Owner" means any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:

(i) Shall have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit with or without accompanying actual possession of it, or

(ii) Shall have charge, care, or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit as owner or agent of the owner, or an executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any person representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter to the same extent as if that person were the owner. An agent of the owner excludes real estate and property management functions where the agent is only responsible for the property management and does not have authority to fund capital and/or major property rehabilitation on behalf of the owner.

(iii) For purposes of publicly owned property only, the owner shall be defined to be the chief executive officer of the municipal or state agency which owns, leases, or controls the use of the property.

(18) "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, association, or partnership and includes municipal and state agencies.

(19) "Premises" means a platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or parcel of land, or plot of land, occupied by a dwelling or structure and includes any building, accessory structure, or other structure thereon which is or will be frequently used by children under the age of six (6) years.

(20) "Program" means the comprehensive environmental lead program established by this chapter.

(21) "State inspector" means the director, his or her designee, or any inspector employed by the department of health who is authorized by the director to conduct comprehensive environmental lead inspections and/or other inspections for the department.

History of Section. (P.L. 1991, ch. 355, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 187, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 188, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 142, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 143, § 1.)