Wilson Signs Three Bills on Lead Poisoning Tests : Health: The legislation vastly expands screening for children from 6 months to 6 years of age. It includes those covered by private insurance.

Gov. Pete Wilson signed legislation Friday creating what he called the most comprehensive program in the country to detect and treat lead poisoning in children.

In signing the three-bill package, the governor vastly expanded testing for lead to millions of children from the vulnerable ages of 6 months to 6 years. One in five California youngsters is believed to be in danger of contracting lead poisoning.

It was reported by The Times earlier that the program included extending testing for lead in the bloodstream to about 500,000 California children covered by Medi-Cal. The legislation that Wilson signed Friday provided for this category of children and others receiving government health care, and also children covered by private insurance or health maintenance organizations.

Citing recent action by the federal government to lower the threshold level for lead poisoning, Wilson called the condition the nation’s “leading environmental threat to children.”

Under the centerpiece bill, carried by Assemblyman Lloyd G. Connelly (D-Sacramento), virtually all children will be evaluated for lead poisoning starting in 1993, at the discretion of their parents. Those found to be in danger will be identified and receive follow-up health treatment.

The $16-million annual cost of the program will be paid by fees from industries whose operations contributed to lead contamination of the environment, especially in low-income urban neighbors. They include gasoline refiners, paint manufacturers and lead-smelting plants.

Wilson also signed legislation by Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) to create an industry-financed effort by the state Department of Health Services aimed at cleansing lead from the workplace. The third bill, by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), requires insurance companies and HMOs to offer the coverage to children.

Wilson’s action coincided with announcement by state Health Services Director Molly Coye of a settlement of a major lawsuit against the state that demanded that low-income children be tested for lead poisoning. The state had been sued by the Natural Resources Defense Council and others on behalf of poor children served by the state Medi-Cal and Children’s Health and Disability programs.

Drafters of the legislation said fees imposed on lead-producing industries by the Connelly bill will help finance the testing of young children in the two health-care programs without raiding funds from other youth health programs.

Connelly noted that the Bush Administration has made elimination of lead poisoning in children within 20 years a top priority, with the responsibility for surveillance of children delegated to the states. He said his bill will provide for the surveillance of children with high levels of lead in their blood.

Wilson, who has promoted “governmental prevention” of problems among children as a credo of his Administration, noted studies have demonstrated that children who suffer from lead poisoning have IQs four to six points below their peers.

Some lead poisoning victims are afflicted with a wide range of ailments and disabilities, including mental retardation, brain and kidney damage and hypertension; some may even die. Lead poisoning is detected only by blood tests.

The Torres bill, earlier versions of which were either killed by the Assembly or vetoed by former Gov. George Deukmejian, will establish an occupational health and lead poisoning prevention program in the Department of Health Services. It will be financed by $1.2 million in fees assessed on manufacturers of such things as batteries, metal containers and refrigeration components, and also on the recycling industry.

While the Connelly bill will primarily benefit low-income youngsters, the proposal by Assemblywoman Lee requires health insurance policies and HMOs to cover the costs of lead testing for children.

In a separate action, Wilson vetoed legislation by Torres that would have authorized spending $60 million in federal and state funds for citizenship and English classes for 1.6 million newly legalized citizens who were included in the U.S. amnesty program.

In a four-page message, Wilson said he agreed that these Californians needed such educational services, but pointed to the long-running dispute with the federal government over providing the funds to pay for them.

Wilson called sources needed to finance the bill “illusionary” and asserted the measure would hold out a promise it could not keep. In turn, Torres accused Wilson of “turning his back to 1.6 million legal immigrants seeking access to the American dream.”