Louisiana § RS 40:1289.1 - Legislative findings; declaration

§ RS 40:1289.1. Legislative findings; declaration

            A. The legislature hereby finds the following:

            (1) Certain forms of mold pose a severe and unacceptable risk to the environment of Louisiana and the health of its people. Moreover, the legislature finds that indoor toxins, specifically toxic mold, represent an insufficiently understood health and environmental problem.

            (2) Numerous studies indicate that adverse health effects result from mold spores, varying from cold-like symptoms to more serious symptoms, such as allergy and asthma outbreaks. Toxins in mold can have negative effects on humans when ingested, inhaled, or when they come in contact with the skin. These effects can have serious health consequences for some population subgroups, especially infants, children, pregnant women, persons who are elderly, individuals with asthma, individuals with allergies, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Healthcare professionals now acknowledge that molds can cause allergies, trigger asthma attacks, detrimentally affect the function of vital human organs, and increase susceptibility to colds and flu.

            (3) Though not all molds are toxic, there are certain dangers that molds present within buildings and structures. It is thus imperative that the toxicity of mold be determined where it is found and a corresponding plan of action be implemented to address mold-related hazards in buildings and structures within this state.

            B. The legislature hereby declares that it is in the best interest of the public health, welfare, and safety to establish a task force to lead development of comprehensive policies and promote best practices concerning mitigation and remediation of toxic mold and reducing the adverse health effects caused by this unique threat to public health.

            Acts 2014, No. 258, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1300.411 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.; Acts 2020, No. 157, §2.