§ 1370-b. Advisory council on lead poisoning prevention. 1. The New York state advisory council on lead poisoning prevention is hereby established in the department, to consist of the following, or their designees: the commissioner; the commissioner of labor; the commissioner of environmental conservation; the commissioner of housing and community renewal; the commissioner of children and family services; the commissioner of temporary and disability assistance; the secretary of state; and fifteen public members appointed by the governor. The public members shall have a demonstrated expertise or interest in lead poisoning prevention and at least one public member shall be representative of each of the following: local government; community groups; labor unions; real estate; industry; parents; educators; local housing authorities; child health advocates; environmental groups; professional medical organizations and hospitals. The public members of the council shall have fixed terms of three years; except that five of the initial appointments shall be for two years and five shall be for one year. The council shall be chaired by the commissioner or his or her designee.

2. Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation for their services, except that each of them may be allowed necessary and actual expenses which he or she shall incur in the performance of his or her duties under this article.

3. A majority of the appointed voting membership of the council shall constitute a quorum.

4. The council shall meet as often as may be deemed necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. The council shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To develop a comprehensive statewide plan to prevent lead poisoning and to minimize the risk of human exposure to lead;

(b) To coordinate the activities of its member agencies with respect to environmental lead policy and the statewide plan;

(c) To recommend the adoption of policies with regard to the detection and elimination of lead hazards in the environment;

(d) To recommend the adoption of policies with regard to the identification and management of children with elevated lead levels;

(e) To recommend the adoption of policies with regard to education and outreach strategies related to lead exposure, detection, and risk reduction;

(f) To comment on regulations of the department under this title when the council deems appropriate;

(g) To make recommendations to ensure the qualifications of persons performing inspection and abatement of lead through a system of licensure and certification or otherwise;

(h) To recommend strategies for funding the lead poisoning prevention program, including but not limited to ways to enhance the funding of screening through insurance coverage and other means, and ways to financially assist property owners in abating environmental lead, such as tax credits, loan funds, and other approaches; and

(i) To report on or before December first of each year to the governor and the legislature concerning the previous year's development and implementation of the statewide plan and operation of the program, together with recommendations it deems necessary and the most currently available lead surveillance measures, including the actual number and estimated percentage of children tested for lead in accordance with New York state regulations, including age-specific testing requirements, and the actual number and estimated percentage of children identified with elevated blood lead levels. Such report shall be made available on the department's website.