Legislation Details

File #: 24-6183    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Policy Status: Passed
File created: 9/25/2024 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 10/8/2024 Final action: 10/8/2024
Title: Request by Public Health Services for approval to transfer signatory authority from former Harris County Public Health Executive Director, Barbie Robinson, to Interim Executive Director, Leah Barton, to approve lead abatement activities for the Harris County Public Health Lead Abatement and Prevention Program (HCPH LAPP) in homes and child-occupied facilities. The program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Department: Public Health Services

Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Interim Executive Director

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Policy

 

Project ID (if applicable): ARPA_Lead

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): American Rescue Plan Act

 

MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A

MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request by Public Health Services for approval to transfer signatory authority from former Harris County Public Health Executive Director, Barbie Robinson, to Interim Executive Director, Leah Barton, to approve lead abatement activities for the Harris County Public Health Lead Abatement and Prevention Program (HCPH LAPP) in homes and child-occupied facilities. The program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

end

 

Background and Discussion:

Childhood lead poisoning is a major health concern as it has numerous lifelong effects on children’s nervous system and brain development. There is also a negative correlation between childhood lead poisoning, behavioral problems, and learning disorders. In Harris County, 122K homes are potentially at risk for lead-based paint hazards (homes built prior to 1978). Nineteen thousand children under the age of 6 live below the poverty line. Children living below the poverty line have a higher probability of residing in homes built prior to 1978. Thus, there is an evident need to increase lead abatement and blood lead level testing in the community. Public Health Services is requesting the authorization for the Interim Executive Director of Harris County Public Health or her designee to execute agreements on behalf of the County for applicants that qualify and are approved for lead abatement assistance and relocation funded by ARPA.

 

Expected Impact:

The expected impact of the program’s efforts includes reduced exposure to lead-based paint hazards as well as improved health outcomes by detecting elevated blood lead levels, identifying its source, and abating the hazard, expeditiously. The lead remediation in homes and child-occupied facilities will also improve the quality of the family’s everyday lives while our outreach and abatement efforts will increase overall awareness of the hazards and lifelong effects associated with lead poisoning.

 

Alternative Options:

N/A

 

Alignment with Goal(s):

_ Justice and Safety

_ Economic Opportunity

X Housing

X Public Health

_ Transportation

_ Flooding

X Environment

_ Governance and Customer Service

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

08/23/2022

15

Delegation of Authority Approved

 

Location:

Address (if applicable): N/A

Precinct(s): Countywide

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

ARPA Lead Abatement and Prevention Program

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

 

$

$

$

$

 

$

$

$

$

 

$

$

$

$

Total Current Budget

$

$

$

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

 

$

$

$

$

.

$

$

$

$

 

$

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

$

$

Total Funding Request

$

$

$

$

Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: October 08, 2024

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): October 08, 2024

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: COVID-19 related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Scott Jeansonne, Director of Environmental Public Health, Public Health Services

 

Attachments (if applicable):