FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE LITESA WALLACE
For More Information:
State Rep. Litesa Wallace
815-987-7433
Wallace Bill to Increase Protections Against Lead Contamination Becomes
Law
ROCKFORD, Ill. – Under a new law supported by state Rep. Litesa Wallace,
D-Rockford, which will take effect on Jan. 1, property owners will be
required to address and notify potential owners and lessees about lead
problems before selling or renting a residence.
"Sellers and landlords need to be upfront about potential health hazards
when offering a living space, and this legislation requiring they notify
potential buys and owners is a step in the right direction," Wallace
said. "Lead can be a serious health hazard to families, and this new law
will help to ensure that proper steps are taken to preserve the health
and well-being of occupants."
Slated to take effect beginning Jan. 1, Senate Bill 2300 requires a
property owner to inform a prospective occupant of known lead
contamination prior to entering a lease, renewing a lease or closing on
a sale. Lead, which causes illness through exposure, is often found in
the walls of older houses and apartment buildings. According to the
Illinois Department of Public Health, approximately 75 percent of homes
in Illinois built before 1978 contain some form of lead-based paint.
"Unfortunately, there have been instances in Illinois where landlords
have made multiple renters sick because they decided to hide a serious
problem," Wallace said. "This new law creates needed transparency and
accountability, something desperately needed in our state."
For more information, or to submit an idea, please contact Wallace's
full-time constituent service office at 815-987-7433, or email
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