1 Findings.

I. The general court hereby finds that:

(a) The state of New Hampshire had previously employed a state toxicologist.

(b) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the incidence of breast cancer is the highest in the country.

(c) There is a CDC-defined double pediatric cancer cluster acknowledged by the department of health and human services in a 5-town area of the seacoast.

(d) The department has acknowledged that rates of brain and CNS cancer are more than 2 times expected in the children of the same 5-town area.

(e) According to the state of New Hampshire rates of prostate cancer are elevated. Prostate cancer is known to be potentially related to environmental triggers.

(f) Bladder cancer, known or suspected to be related to exposure to arsenic in drinking water, incidences are elevated in some counties in New Hampshire.

(g) Approximately 2000 citizens including 350 children were exposed to elevated levels of perfluorinated chemicals in their drinking water and now have serum levels of perfluorinated chemicals in excess of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's averages.

(h) There are significant environmental issues within our state that have caused exposure in our citizens.

II. Therefore, the general court hereby requires the department of health and human services to hire a toxicologist.

2 Toxicologist. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall hire a board-certified toxicologist.

3 Appropriation. The sum of $1 is hereby appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 to the department of health and human services for the purposes of section 2 of this act. This appropriation shall be in addition to any other sums appropriated to the department. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Findings.

I. The general court hereby finds that:

(a) The state of New Hampshire had previously employed a state toxicologist.

(b) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the incidence of breast cancer is the highest in the country.

(c) There is a CDC-defined double pediatric cancer cluster acknowledged by the department of health and human services in a 5-town area of the seacoast.

(d) The department has acknowledged that rates of brain and CNS cancer are more than 2 times expected in the children of the same 5-town area.

(e) According to the state of New Hampshire rates of prostate cancer are elevated. Prostate cancer is known to be potentially related to environmental triggers.

(f) Bladder cancer, known or suspected to be related to exposure to arsenic in drinking water, incidences are elevated in some counties in New Hampshire.

(g) Approximately 2000 citizens including 350 children were exposed to elevated levels of perfluorinated chemicals in their drinking water and now have serum levels of perfluorinated chemicals in excess of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's averages.

(h) There are significant environmental issues within our state that have caused exposure in our citizens.

II. Therefore, the general court hereby requires the department of health and human services to hire a toxicologist.

2 Toxicologist. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall hire a board-certified toxicologist.

3 Appropriation. The sum of $1 is hereby appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 to the department of health and human services for the purposes of section 2 of this act. This appropriation shall be in addition to any other sums appropriated to the department. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.