Columbus City Council to consider indefinite extension of child lead investigation program
The measure allows Columbus Public Health to renew state-funded lead inspections administratively every two years while expanding services for children.
Columbus City Council is scheduled on Monday, Nov. 2, to consider the legislation on its consent agenda, after the measure was placed on the calendar on Oct. 28 following an Oct. 26 first reading and an Oct. 5 introduction.
The ordinance before Columbus City Council authorizes the Board of Health to indefinitely extend the Public Health Lead Investigations program with the Ohio Department of Health. The extension is subject to formal renewal of the underlying delegated authority provider agreement every two years between Columbus Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health, beginning with the agreement period ending June 30, 2027.
Under the delegated authority program, Columbus Public Health conducts lead investigations and residential risk assessments as well as case follow-up for children under 6 years old referred by the state. Services are also expanding to cover children identified with elevated blood lead levels under state public health requirements. Under state administrative rules effective July 1, 2023, the Ohio Department of Health may delegate authority to local boards of health as authorized agents to conduct lead investigations and risk assessments of residential units, child care facilities, and schools, and to enforce state hazard control orders.
The lead program operates at no cost to Columbus taxpayers because the work relies on state funding, requiring no municipal revenue generation or city matching funds. The legislation establishes standing authority for the city to accept and deposit future state grant allocations into the Health Department Grants Fund as agreements are executed. The measure also authorizes the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the program as needed upon request by Columbus Public Health to carry out its purpose.
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Supporting evidence (7)
The ordinance before Columbus City Council authorizes the Board of Health to indefinitely extend the Public Health Lead Investigations program with the Ohio Department of Health.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to indefinitely extend the Public Health Lead Investigations program, subject to the formal renewal of the underlying Lead Delegated Authority Provider Agreement every 2 years between Columbus Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health, beginning with the agreement period ending June 30, 2027.
The extension is subject to formal renewal of the underlying delegated authority provider agreement every two years between Columbus Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health, beginning with the agreement period ending June 30, 2027.
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BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to extend the Public Health Lead Investigations program from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) on an indefinite basis, subject to the formal renewal of the underlying Lead Delegated Authority Provider Agreement every 2 years between Columbus Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health, beginning with the agreement period ending June 30, 2027.
Under the delegated authority program, Columbus Public Health conducts lead investigations and residential risk assessments as well as case follow-up for children under 6 years old referred by the state.
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Columbus Public Health has a need to extend this program to provide qualified public health lead investigations, public health lead risk assessments, case follow-up upon referral by ODH for children under six (6) years of age, and provide expanded services to Elevated Blood Lead Level cases per new requirements dictated by ODH.
Services are also expanding to cover children identified with elevated blood lead levels under state public health requirements.
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provide expanded services to Elevated Blood Lead Level cases per new requirements dictated by ODH.
The lead program operates at no cost to Columbus taxpayers because the work relies on state funding, requiring no municipal revenue generation or city matching funds.
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FISCAL IMPACT: The Public Health Lead Investigations program is entirely funded by the Ohio Department of Health. This program does not generate any revenue or require a City match. ($0.00)
The legislation establishes standing authority for the city to accept and deposit future state grant allocations into the Health Department Grants Fund as agreements are executed.
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SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources for the duration of the Public Health Lead Investigations program, any additional awarded funds are to be appropriated in Fund 2251 upon notification by the Columbus Public Health Department according to the executed agreement with the Ohio Department of Health and the accounting codes provided by the Columbus Public Health Department.
The measure also authorizes the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the program as needed upon request by Columbus Public Health to carry out its purpose.
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SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Public Health Lead Investigations program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health Department to carry out the purpose of the program.
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-3701-30-06
Supporting evidence (2)
Under state administrative rules effective July 1, 2023, the Ohio Department of Health may delegate authority to local boards of health as authorized agents to conduct lead investigations and risk assessments of residential units, child care facilities, and schools, and to enforce state hazard control orders.
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Effective: July 1, 2023
Under state administrative rules effective July 1, 2023, the Ohio Department of Health may delegate authority to local boards of health as authorized agents to conduct lead investigations and risk assessments of residential units, child care facilities, and schools, and to enforce state hazard control orders.
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(A) The director of health may delegate to a board of health the authority as the director's authorized agent to conduct public health lead investigations, and/or public health lead risk assessments of residential units, child care facilities and/or schools, and/or interviews and education, and to enforce this chapter of the Administrative Code