An Act To Protect Children from Lead Exposure by Requiring Sufficient Notice of Renovations
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0555
Committee Amendment CA_A_H179 (House)
Amends: 14 MRSA §6030-B

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "if" to H.P. 433, L.D. 555, Bill, "An Act To 
Protect Children from Lead Exposure by Requiring Sufficient Notice of Renovations" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 14 MRSA §6030-B, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3. Notification of repairs. A landlord or other lessor of residential property who 
undertakes, or who engages someone else to undertake, any repair, renovation or 
remodeling activity in a residential building built before 1978 that includes one or more 
units that are rented for human habitation shaH give notice of the activity and the risk of 
an environmental lead hazard pursuant to this subsection. 
A. Notice must be given at least 30 days before the activity is commenced by: 
(I) Posting a sign on the building's exterior entry doors; and 
(2) A notice sent by certified mail to every unit in the building. 
B. Notwithstanding paragraph A, notice may be given less than 30 days before the 
activity is commenced by: 
(1) Posting a sign on the building's exterior entry doors; and 
(2) Obtaining from one adult tenant of each unit in the building a written waiver 
of the 30-day notice requirement and a written acknowledgment of receipt of 
notice for the particular activity. 
C. The waiver of the 30-day notice requirement pursuant to paragraph B must be in 
plain language, immediately precede the signature of the adult tenant, be printed in no 
less than 12-point boldface type and be in the following fonn or in a substantially 
similar fonn: 
NOTICE: 
YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR RIGHT UNDER STATE LAW TO 
RECEIVE 30 DAYS' NOTICE PRIOR TO ANY REPAIR, RENOVATION OR 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~ 
" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A " 
to H.P. 433, L.D. 555 
REMODELING 
ACTIVITY TO A RESIDENCE BUILT BEFORE 1978. 
RESIDENCES 
BUlL T 
BEFORE 
I 978 
MAY 
CONTAIN 
LEAD 
PAINT 
SUFFICIENT 
TO 
POISON 
CHILDREN 
AND 
SOMETIMES 
ADULTS. 
WORKERS PERFORMING RENOVATIONS OR REPAIRS IN HOUSING BUILT 
BEFORE 1978 SHOULD USE LEAD-SAFE WORK PRACTICES THAT 
MINIMIZE AND CONTAIN LEAD DUST AND SHOULD CLEAN THE WORK 
AREA THOROUGHLY TO PREVENT LEAD POISONING. 
D. For purposes of this subsection, "repair, renovation or remodeling activity" means 
the repair, reconstruction, restoration, replacement. sanding or removal of any 
structural part of a residence that may disturb a surface coated with lead-based paint. 
E. For purposes of this subsection, "environmental lead hazard" means any condition 
that may cause exposure to lead from lead-contaminated dust or lead-based paint. 
F. Emergency repairs are exempt from the notification provisions of this subsection. 
For purposes of this paragraph, "emergency repairs" means repair, renovation or 
remodeling activities that were not planned but result from a sudden, unexpected 
event that, if not immediately attended to, presents a safety or public health hazard or 
threatens equipment or property with significant damage. 
G. A person who violates this subsection is liable to the lessee for actual damages or 
$100, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. 
H. This subsection may not be construed to limit a tenant's rights, a landlord's duties 
or any other provisions under section 6026 or Title 22, chapter 252.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment requires landlords to give 30 
days' notice when undertaking any repair, renovation or remodeling activity in a 
residential building built before 1978 that includes one or more units for rent. The 30-day 
notice of the work may be waived by obtaining from one adult tenant of each unit in the 
building a written waiver of the 30-day notice requirement and a written 
acknowledgement of receipt of notice. The amendment requires the waiver to be in plain 
language, to immediately precede the adult tenant's signature, to be printed in no less than 
12-point boldface type and to be in substantially similar form to a waiver specified in the 
amendment. 
The amendment exempts emergency repairs from the notification 
requirements. Finally, the amendment provides that a person who violates the notice 
requirements is liable to the lessee for actual damages or $ I 00, whichever is greater, and 
reasonable attorney's fees and costs. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/24/07 Mae 
LD555 
LR 2120(02) 
An Act To Protect Children from Lead Exposure by Requiring Sufficient Notice of Renovations 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A " 
Committee: Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
This bill may increase the number of civil suits filed in the court system. 
The collection of additional filing fees may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
LR2120(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1