SECTIONS 26200-26204 - California Statutes

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

SECTION 26200-26204

26200. (a) The California Research Bureau, in consultation with the
State Department of Health Services, shall perform a study and
publish findings on fungal contamination affecting indoor
environments, in accordance with this chapter.
(b) The California Research Bureau shall organize meetings of a
review panel to assist in the preparation of appropriate content for
the study.
(c) The California Research Bureau shall appoint to the review
panel a diverse group of professionals including, but not limited to,
representatives of the following:
(1) Health officers.
(2) Environmental health directors.
(3) Experts on the health effects of fungi.
(4) Medical experts.
(5) Mold testing experts.
(6) Industrial hygienists.
(7) Engineers.

26201. The review panel shall examine the following areas relating
to fungal contamination in indoor environments:
(a) Medical and public health.
(b) Evaluation and monitoring.
(c) Remediation and prevention.
(d) Educational materials.
(e) Hazard communication.
(f) Any other area identified by the review panel.

26202. The panel shall review and, to the extent resources and
expertise permit, make findings on all of the following:
(a) The health effects of exposure to fungi, based on a review of
the literature addressing immunology, infectious disease, and medical
evaluation.
(b) The practices for assessing fungal contamination, including
the use of visual inspection, surface sampling, air monitoring, and
the proper analysis of environmental samples.
(c) To the extent feasible, the appropriateness of commercially
available methods for identifying fungal contamination of building
components including, but not limited to, walls, ventilation systems,
and support beams.
(d) The options for preventing and remediating fungal
contamination in indoor environments. The findings are intended as a
practical guide regarding options for building managers, homeowners,
and members of the general public who may have concerns about fungal
contamination in living and working environments.
(e) Recommendations on hazard communication for distinct
subpopulations, including workers employed in high-risk occupations.
(f) The development of a recommended reading list related to
molds, their health effects, their impacts on indoor air quality, and
related topics for local government officials, including
environmental health officers.
(g) Any additional topical areas deemed appropriate by the review
panel.

26203. (a) By January 1, 2003, the California Research Bureau shall
submit to the Legislature and the Director of Health Services the
published findings of the study.
(b) (1) The findings may provide relevant information to the State
Department of Health Services for the purpose of establishing
standards and guidelines on fungal contamination affecting indoor
environments pursuant to Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 26100).
(2) This subdivision may serve as a source of information for
department programs relating to fungal contamination, including those
provisions that become operative if Senate Bill 732 is enacted and
adds Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 26100).

26204. Of the funds identified in provision (2) of Item
6120-011-0001 of the Budget Act of 2001, twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000) shall be made available to be used for contracts for
outside researchers pursuant to this chapter.