By SCOTT JORGENSEN
IVN Staff Writer

A state bill requiring mandatory fluoridation for water suppliers serving more than 10,000 persons is drawing opposition from local legislators.

House Bill 3099 was referred to the House Health Care Committee on March 14, with a public hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday, April 3. The city of Cave Junction would not be affected.

The bill would place the state Dept. of Human Services (DHS) in charge of the fluoridation. It would preempt “local government regulations that prohibit or restrict the use of fluoride.”

Previous Bill Protested

A similar bill, HB 2025, was proposed during the 2005 legislative session. House District 4 Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) said that he recalls receiving numerous calls from constituents opposed to the bill.

“They do not want the state to mandate the chemicals in their water without their approval,” he said.

HB 2025 passed the House last session, but stalled in the Senate Environment and Land Use Committee until the Legislature adjourned in August 2005.

These days, Richardson is serving as vice chairman of the House Health Care Committee. He said that there are many good reasons for citizens, and legislators, to oppose mandatory fluoridation.

“There have been a number of recent well-researched, highly regarded studies indicating the potential health hazards in fluoridation,” Richardson said.

District 3 Rep. Ron Maurer (R-Grants Pass) points out that fluoride is a prescription drug, and that he plans to vote against the bill.

“That’s hard for me to support,” Maurer said. “Unless I’m convinced otherwise, my starting position is ‘No’.”

Dave Wright, city of Grants Pass Public Works director, estimates that implementing fluoridation would cost the city between $30,000 and $50,000. There are also employee safety issues, staff training time, the purchase of additional equipment and “more precautions” in the city’s water treatment process.

Plan Not Comprehensive

“It would require us to involve differently the other chemicals we use,” Wright said.

Wright said that mandatory fluoridation does nothing to improve water quality, and would still exclude large portions of the overall population.

“It wouldn’t be a comprehensive program, as far as everybody goes,” Wright said. “It doesn’t address the countywide issue with wells. Those serve 30 to 40 percent of the county’s residents.”

A provision of HB 3099 delays its implementation “until water suppliers have sufficient capital to purchase equipment.” The bill also allows for temporary exemptions for water suppliers until they have enough money “from a source other than fees or charges by the water supplier to the supplier’s ratepayers, shareholders, local taxpayers or bondholders.”

But Richardson, an attorney, said that despite those provisions, HB 3099 has the potential to become a “silent mandate” that will be “sleeping in the laws of Oregon” until a court challenge forces municipalities to fall into compliance.

Because of that, Richardson said, HB 3099 remains an unfunded mandate of sorts and should not be passed.

“Mandates, once they are in place, are very difficult to remove,” Richardson said. “If it’s not ready to be implemented and they don’t have the revenue stream to pay for it, it shouldn’t be passed into law.”

A similar measure, Senate Bill 33, also was proposed. It was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 12, but no subsequent action has been taken.

Wright said that if HB 3099 passes, his department would go along with its mandates.

“We’re not taking a position one way or the other,” Wright said. “If it becomes state law, we will comply.”

Contact Data Provided

Richardson said that citizens concerned about HB 3099 should contact House Health Care Committee chair Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland) and Rep. Tina Kotek (D-Portland), that committee’s vice chairman.

“They’re the ones that need to feel that pressure,” Richardson said.

Greenlick can be reached at (503) 986-1433 or via rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us. Kotek can be reached at (503) 986-1444 or rep.tinakotek@state.or.us.