(a)  In order to achieve the purposes of this chapter, a statewide, multifaceted, ongoing educational program designed to meet the needs of tenants, property owners, realtors and real estate agents, insurers and insurance agents, local building officials, and health providers and caregivers is hereby established.

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(b)  The governor, in conjunction with the department of health and the housing resources commission, shall sponsor a series of public service announcements on radio, television, and print media about the nature of lead hazards, the importance of lead hazard control and mitigation, and the purposes and responsibilities set forth in this chapter. In developing and coordinating this public information initiative the sponsors shall seek the participation and involvement of private industry organizations, including those involved in real estate, insurance, mortgage banking, and pediatrics.

(c)  Within sixty (60) days after the regulations set forth in §?42-128.1-7 for lead hazard control and mitigation go into effect, the housing resources commission in conjunction with the department of health shall:

(1)  Create culturally and linguistically appropriate material outlining the rights and responsibilities of parties affected by this chapter;

(2)  Establish guidelines and a trainer’s manual for a not more than three (3) hours lead hazard control awareness seminar for rental property owners or designated persons, which shall be forwarded to all public and private colleges and universities in Rhode Island, to other professional training facilities, and to professional associations and community organizations with a training capacity, with the stipulation this seminar be offered for a maximum fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) per participant. The housing resources commission shall approve the proposals to offer the seminar from institutions, provided those proposals are consistent with the guidelines. An electronic version of this awareness seminar shall be created and approved by the housing resources commission for computer Internet access. Said awareness seminar shall also be produced and made available in both VHS and DVD format for rental or purchase at a reasonable cost not to exceed five dollars ($5.00) for the rental version and fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the purchased version. Said seminar shall be available to tenants, property owners and other interested parties.

(3)  Adopt rules for the dissemination of information about the requirements of this chapter to all prospective owners of pre-1978 dwellings during the real estate transaction, settlement, or closing;

(4)  Solicit requests, to the extent that these partnerships are not already established, to enter into ongoing, funded partnerships, to provide specific counseling information services to tenants and affected parties on their rights and responsibilities with regard to lead hazards and lead poisoning.

(d)  The department of business regulation shall, with regard to its responsibilities for the profession of real estate brokers and salespersons, adopt rules, with the concurrence of the housing resources commission and the department of health which shall be effective not later than June 30, 2004: (1) requiring proof of reasonable familiarity with the knowledge of duties and responsibilities under the provisions of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, chapter 24.6 of Title 23, and this chapter, for the licensure or renewal of licenses of real estate brokers and salespersons in accordance with §?5-20.5-6 after July 1, 2004; and (2) providing, pursuant to §?5-20.5-18, an educational program for real estate brokers and salespersons regarding such duties and responsibilities.

(e)  The housing resources commission, in conjunction with the department of health, is hereby authorized to develop, offer, engage in, contract for and/or provide any other educational or informational programs that they may deem necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to: programs to assist families to find housing that is lead free, lead safe or lead hazard mitigated or abated; to train lead hazard mitigation inspectors and local building officials and persons engaged in renovating and/or improving housing about controlling or mitigating lead hazards in pre-1978 housing. Said programs shall provide information about lead hazard mitigation requirements at retail hardware and paint stores and home-improvement centers, including, as a minimum, signs of sufficient size with large enough lettering to be easily seen and read, which contains the following language:

Use of abrasive material (sandpaper, steel wool, drill disks and pads, etc.) in your home to remove paint may increase the risk of childhood lead poisoning. For more information please contact the Rhode Island housing resources commission or department of health.