Enacting the lead-free game donation act

• Democratic3

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Pete Harckham says this is needed

Lead is a potent neurotoxin for which no level of exposure is considered safe. Decades of scientific and medical research have established that lead exposure can cause irreversible harm, particularly to children and pregnant people. Even low levels of lead in the body are associated with damage to the developing brain and nervous system, resulting in learning disabilities, behavioral problems, reduced IQ, and other lifelong impairments. Lead exposure during pregnancy can also affect fetal devel- opment, with consequences that persist throughout life. Lead accumulates in the body over time, so preventable sources of exposure must be elimi- nated. Game harvested with lead ammunition has been shown to contain small, widely dispersed fragments that are not readily visible or removable during processing. When meat taken with lead enters the charitable food system, recipients, often the poorest and most vulnerable New Yorkers, may unknowingly consume this toxin. Individuals and families who rely on donated food should not face heightened exposure to lead simply because of economic circumstance. By ensuring that only game taken with non-lead ammunition or archery equipment (including crossbows newly authorized for broader use) is eligible for donation, this legislation will remove another preventable source of lead exposure as has previously been done with shot used for waterfowl hunting, gasoline, residential paint, and drinking water service lines.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.