Chapter 254

254.158(3) (3) Shall exempt a child from the lead screening recommendations if the child’s parent, guardian or legal custodian signs a written waiver objecting to the lead poisoning screening for reasons of health, religion or personal conviction.

254.158(4) (4) Shall exempt a child from the lead poisoning screening recommendations if the child’s parent, guardian or legal custodian presents written evidence of a lead screening that was conducted within the previous 6 months, or other time period specified by the department by rule, and that was conducted in accordance with the laws or rules of another state whose laws or rules the department determines to be at least as stringent as the screening methods and intervals recommended under this section.

254.158 History History: 1993 a. 450; 2017 a. 364.

254.162 254.162 Screening requirements.

254.162(1) (1) Institutions and programs providing services to children under 6 years of age. The department may promulgate rules requiring the following institutions and programs to obtain written evidence that each child under 6 years of age participating in the institution or program has obtained a lead screening, or is exempt from obtaining one, under the recommended lead screening levels and intervals contained in the rules promulgated by the department under s. 254.158, within the time periods specified by the department:

254.162(1)(a) (a) Multidisciplinary evaluations for early intervention under s. 51.44.

254.162(1)(b) (b) Head start programs administered by a head start agency under 42 USC 9836.

254.162(1)(c) (c) Child care providers certified under s. 48.651 and child care centers licensed under s. 48.65, provisionally licensed under s. 48.69, or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14).

254.162(1)(d) (d) School-based programs serving children under 6 years of age, including kindergartens, special education and related services for children with disabilities, as defined in s. 115.76 (5), and other early childhood programs.

254.162(1)(e) (e) Health care programs that provide services to children under 6 years of age and that receive state funding.

254.162(1)(f) (f) Other institutions or programs that provide services to children under 6 years of age.

254.162(2) (2) Information requirement. If a program or institution is required to request written evidence of a lead screening under rules promulgated under sub. (1), the institution or program shall, at the time that it makes the request, inform the parent, guardian or legal custodian of the child in writing, in a manner that is prescribed by the department by rule, of the importance of lead screening, of how and where the lead screening may be obtained, and of the conditions under which a child is exempt from the recommended lead screening requirements under the department’s rules.

254.162 History History: 1993 a. 450; 1997 a. 164; 2009 a. 185.

254.164 254.164 Care for children with lead poisoning or lead exposure. The department may promulgate rules establishing standards for the care coordination and follow-up of children under 6 years of age with lead poisoning or lead exposure. Any rules promulgated under this section shall meet any federal requirements for the care coordination and follow-up of children under 6 years of age with elevated blood lead levels. Rules promulgated under this subsection may specify different care coordination and follow-up requirements based on different blood lead levels and may, where appropriate, require that the care coordination and follow-up include any of the following:

254.164(1) (1) Physical, developmental and nutritional assessment.

254.164(2) (2) Parent education.

254.164(3) (3) Medical evaluation.

254.164(4) (4) A lead investigation of all or part of the child’s dwelling or other dwellings or premises that may have contributed to the child’s lead poisoning or lead exposure.

254.164(5) (5) Assistance in developing a plan for lead hazard reduction or other actions needed to reduce exposure to lead and the consequences of such exposure.

254.164(6) (6) Where necessary, assistance in obtaining permanent or temporary lead-safe housing.

254.164(7) (7) Nutritional supplements.

254.164(8) (8) Follow-up services, including monitoring the provision of services to the child.

254.164 History History: 1993 a. 450; 2007 a. 91.

254.166 254.166 Response to reports of lead poisoning or lead exposure.

254.166(1) (1) The department may, after being notified that an occupant of a dwelling or premises who is under 6 years of age has blood lead poisoning or lead exposure, present official credentials to the owner or occupant of the dwelling or premises, or to a representative of the owner, and request admission to conduct a lead investigation of the dwelling or premises. If the department is notified that an occupant of a dwelling or premises who is a child under 6 years of age has an elevated blood lead level, the department shall conduct a lead investigation of the dwelling or premises or ensure that a lead investigation of the dwelling or premises is conducted. The lead investigation shall be conducted during business hours, unless the owner or occupant of the dwelling or premises consents to an investigation during nonbusiness hours or unless the department determines that the dwelling or premises presents an imminent lead hazard. The department shall use reasonable efforts to provide prior notice of the lead investigation to the owner of the dwelling or premises. The department may remove samples or objects necessary for laboratory analysis to determine the presence of a lead hazard in the dwelling or premises. The department shall prepare and file written reports of all lead investigations conducted under this section and shall make the contents of these reports available for inspection by the public, except for medical information, which may be disclosed only to the extent that patient health care records may be disclosed under ss. 146.82 to 146.835. If the owner or occupant refuses admission, the department may seek a warrant to investigate the dwelling or premises. The warrant shall advise the owner or occupant of the scope of the lead investigation.

254.166(2) (2) If the department determines that a lead hazard is present in any dwelling or premises, the department may do any of the following:

254.166(2)(a) (a) Cause to be posted in a conspicuous place upon the dwelling or premises a notice of the presence of a lead hazard.

254.166(2)(b) (b) Inform the local health officer of the results of the lead investigation and provide recommendations to reduce or eliminate the lead hazard.

254.166(2)(c) (c) Notify the occupant of the dwelling or premises or the occupant’s representative of all of the following:

254.166(2)(c)1. 1. That a lead hazard is present on or in the dwelling or premises.

254.166(2)(c)2. 2. The results of any lead investigations conducted on or in the dwelling or premises.

254.166(2)(c)3. 3. Any actions taken to reduce or eliminate the lead hazard.

254.166(2)(d) (d) Notify the owner of the dwelling or premises of the presence of a lead hazard.

254.166(2m) (2m) If the department determines that a lead hazard is present in any dwelling or premises, the local health department shall and the department may issue an order that requires reduction or elimination of an imminent lead hazard within 5 days after the order’s issuance and reduction or elimination of other lead hazards within 30 days after the order’s issuance, except that, for orders that are issued between October 1 and May 1 and that relate only to exterior lead hazards that are not imminent lead hazards, the order may require elimination or reduction of the lead hazard no earlier than the June 1 immediately following the order’s issuance. If the agency that issued the order determines that the owner has good cause for not complying with the order within the 5-day or 30-day time period, the agency may extend the time period within which the owner is required to comply with the order. The failure to comply with an order within the time prescribed or as extended shall be prima facie evidence of negligence in any action brought to recover damages for injuries incurred after the time period expires. If an order to conduct lead hazard reduction is issued by the department or by a local health department and if the owner of the dwelling or premises complies with that order, there is a rebuttable presumption that the owner of the dwelling or premises has exercised reasonable care with respect to lead poisoning or lead exposure caused, after the order has been complied with, by lead hazards covered by the order, except that with respect to interim control activities the rebuttable presumption continues only for the period for which the interim control activity is reasonably expected to reduce or eliminate the lead hazard.

254.166(2r) (2r) The department may conduct or require a certified lead risk assessor or other person certified under s. 254.176 to conduct a lead investigation, a check of work completed, and dust tests for the presence of hazardous levels of lead to ensure compliance with an order issued under sub. (2m).

254.166(4) (4) The department shall give priority to eliminating lead hazards from dwellings in which children under 6 years of age with diagnosed lead poisoning or lead exposure reside.

254.166 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 27 s. 433; Stats. 1993 s. 254.14; 1993 a. 450 ss. 39 to 41; Stats. 1993 s. 254.166; 1999 a. 113; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 91.

254.167 254.167 Conduct of lead investigation. Subject to the limitation under s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules establishing procedures for conducting lead investigations of dwellings and premises. The rules promulgated under this section may include the following:

254.167(1) (1) Specific procedures for investigating, testing or sampling painted, varnished or other finished surfaces, drinking water, household dust, soil and other materials that may contain lead.

254.167(2) (2) Specific procedures for the notification of owners, operators, occupants or prospective occupants, mortgagees and lienholders of lead levels identified during a lead investigation and of any health risks that are associated with the lead level and condition of the lead found during the lead investigation.

254.167(3) (3) The form of lead investigation reports, the requirements for filing the reports with the department and the procedures by which members of the public may obtain copies of lead investigation reports.

254.167(4) (4) Requirements for the posting of warnings, where appropriate, of the presence of a lead hazard.

254.167 History History: 1993 a. 450; 1999 a. 113.

254.167 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 163, Wis. adm. code.

254.168 254.168 Lead investigations of facilities serving children under 6 years of age. Subject to the limitation under s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules that require any of the following facilities to have periodic lead investigations at intervals determined by the department or to otherwise demonstrate that the facility does not contain a lead hazard, if any part of the facility was constructed before January 1, 1978:

254.168(1) (1) A foster home licensed under s. 48.62.

254.168(2) (2) A group home licensed under s. 48.625.

254.168(3) (3) A shelter care facility under s. 48.66.

254.168(4) (4) A child care provider certified under s. 48.651.

254.168(5) (5) A child care center licensed under s. 48.65, provisionally licensed under s. 48.69, or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14).

254.168(6) (6) A private or public nursery school or kindergarten.

254.168(7) (7) Any other facility serving children under 6 years of age that presents a risk for causing lead poisoning or lead exposure in children.

254.168 History History: 1993 a. 450; 2007 a. 91; 2009 a. 185.

254.172 254.172 Prevention and control of lead-bearing paint hazards in dwellings and premises.

254.172(1) (1) Subject to the limitation under s. 254.174, the department may promulgate rules governing lead hazard reduction that the department determines are consistent with federal law.

254.172(2) (2) If a certified lead risk assessor or other person certified under s. 254.176 conducts a lead investigation of a dwelling or premises, he or she shall conduct the lead investigation and issue a report in accordance with any rules promulgated under s. 254.167. If the report indicates that the dwelling or premises meets criteria under s. 254.179 (1) (a) for issuance of a certificate of lead-free or of a certificate of lead-safe status, the lead risk assessor or other person shall issue the appropriate certificate, subject to s. 254.181.

254.172 History History: 1993 a. 450; 1999 a. 113, 186.

254.172 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 163, Wis. adm. code.

254.174 254.174 Technical advisory committees. Before the department may promulgate rules under s. 254.167, 254.168, 254.172 or 254.179, the department shall appoint a technical advisory committee under s. 227.13 and shall consult with the technical advisory committee on the proposed rules. Any technical advisory committee required under this section shall include representatives from local health departments that administer local lead programs, representatives from the housing industry, persons certified under s. 254.176, representatives from the medical or public health professions, advocates for persons at risk of lead poisoning and a resident of a 1st class city. Any technical advisory committee required under this section before promulgating rules under s. 254.168 shall also include representatives of facilities serving children under 6 years of age.

254.174 History History: 1993 a. 450; 1999 a. 113.

254.176 254.176 Certification requirements.

254.176(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2) and s. 250.041, and subject to sub. (3m) and s. 254.115, the department may establish by rule certification requirements for any person who performs lead hazard reduction or a lead management activity or who supervises the performance of any lead hazard reduction or lead management activity.

254.176(2) (2) No certification is required under this section for lead hazard reduction conducted by any of the following persons, unless the lead hazard reduction is being done to comply with an order by the department or another state or local agency that requires the use of persons certified under this section:

254.176(2)(a) (a) A person whose activities are limited to interim control activities, unless the activities are directly funded by a grant from the federal department of housing and urban development.

254.176(2)(b) (b) A person whose activities do not involve lead-bearing paint or lead-contaminated soil or dust.

254.176(2)(c) (c) A homeowner who engages in lead hazard reduction only in or on his or her own nonrental residential dwelling or real property.

254.176(2)(d) (d) A person licensed, certified or registered under ch. 145 who engages in activities that constitute lead hazard reduction, only to the extent that these activities are within the scope of his or her license, certification or registration.

254.176(2)(e) (e) A person who engages in the business of installing or servicing heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment if the person is registered with the department of safety and professional services and if the person engages in activities that constitute lead hazard reduction, only to the extent that the activities are within the scope of his or her registration.

254.176(3) (3) Except as provided in s. 250.041 and subject to sub. (3m) and s. 254.115, the department may promulgate rules establishing certification requirements for persons required to be certified under this section. Any rules promulgated under this section:

254.176(3)(a) (a) Shall include requirements and procedures for issuing, renewing, revoking and suspending under this section certifications issued under this section.

254.176(3)(c) (c) Shall require completion of an appropriate training course accredited under s. 254.178 or of a training course determined by the department to be comparable to the appropriate training course under s. 254.178.

254.176(3)(d) (d) May provide for requirements other than training as a condition for full certification.

254.176(3)(e) (e) Shall specify fees for certifying persons under this section, except that no fee may be imposed on any person employed by the state or by any political subdivision of the state for a certification required to perform duties within the scope of the employment or on an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44.

254.176(3)(f) (f) Shall require the issuance of a photo identification card to each person certified under this section.

254.176(3m) (3m) Any relevant education, training, instruction, or other experience that an applicant has obtained in connection with military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), counts toward satisfying the requirements for education, training, instruction, or other experience for certification under this section if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the education, training, instruction, or other experience that the applicant obtained in connection with his or her military service is substantially equivalent to the education, training, instruction, or other experience that is required to be certified under this section.

254.176(4) (4) The department shall maintain lists of all persons who are certified under this section and shall make the lists available to the public. The department may charge a fee for lists provided under this subsection to cover the department’s costs in providing the lists.

254.176(5) (5) After notice and opportunity for hearing, the department may revoke, suspend, deny or refuse to renew any certification issued under this section in accordance with the procedures set forth in ch. 227, except that if a revocation, denial, or nonrenewal is based on tax delinquency under s. 73.0301 or unemployment insurance contribution delinquency under s. 108.227, the only hearing rights available are those set forth in s. 73.0301 (5) or 108.227 (5), whichever is applicable.

254.176 History History: 1993 a. 450; 1995 a. 27 ss. 6330, 9116 (5); 1997 a. 191, 237; 1999 a. 113; 2011 a. 32, 120, 209; 2013 a. 36.

254.176 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 163, Wis. adm. code.

254.178 254.178 Accreditation of lead training courses and approval of lead instructors.

254.178(1) (1) 

254.178(1)(a) (a) No person may advertise or conduct a training course in lead hazard reduction, or in a lead management activity, that is represented as qualifying persons for certification under s. 254.176 unless the course is accredited by the department under this section.

254.178(1)(b) (b) Except as provided in s. 250.041, no person may function as an instructor of a lead training course accredited under this section unless the person is approved by the department under this section.

254.178(2) (2) The department shall promulgate rules establishing requirements, except as provided in sub. (2m) and s. 250.041, for accreditation of lead training courses and approval of lead instructors. These rules:

254.178(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in s. 250.041, shall include requirements and procedures for granting, renewing, revoking and suspending under this section lead training course accreditations and lead instructor approvals.

254.178(2)(c) (c) May provide for full or contingent accreditation or approval.

254.178(2)(d) (d) Shall specify fees for accrediting lead training courses and approving lead instructors, except that no fee may be imposed on an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44.

254.178(2m) (2m) Any relevant education, training, instruction, or other experience that an applicant has obtained in connection with military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), counts toward satisfying the requirements for education, training, instruction, or other experience to function as an instructor of a lead training course accredited under this section if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the education, training, instruction, or other experience that the applicant obtained in connection with his or her military service is substantially equivalent to the education, training, instruction, or other experience that is required to function as an instructor of a lead training course accredited under this section.

254.178(3) (3) The department shall maintain lists of all lead training courses accredited, and all lead instructors approved, under this section and shall make the lists available to the public. The department may charge a fee for lists provided under this subsection to cover the department’s costs in providing the lists.