Letter to Members of the Legislature

Letter

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, and
Members of the Legislature
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509

Dear Mr. President and Members of the Legislature:

I am returning LB 204 and LB 204A without my signature and with my objections.
LB 204 requires all students to have undergone blood-lead testing prior to enrollment in
kindergarten or upon enrollment for the first time in a Nebraska school unless a specific
exemption applies.

While the detection of elevated blood lead levels in children is important, the tie to kindergarten
entrance requirements is overly broad and will likely result in children not at risk of elevated
blood lead levels being tested. In 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revised its
recommendations related to blood lead screening. The CDC now recommends against universal
screening and in favor of targeted screening programs in order to decrease the unwarranted blood
lead testing for children who are not at risk. Screening should be focused on populations
identified at highest risk of lead exposure.

Additionally, LB 204 mandates that parents or guardians cover the additional costs to have such
testing completed. Risk criteria established in LB 204 are likely to over identify children
resulting in unnecessary testing and in increased health-care costs.

For these reasons, I urge you to sustain my veto of LB 204 and LB 204A.

Sincerely,
Dave Heineman
Governor

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