R.I. LEAD LAW CHANGES SOUGHT:

Implementation of a landmark lead paint law has been delayed in Rhode Island until next July, and now critics and some supporters say it should also be modified. The Lead Hazard Mitigation Act, which became law in 2002, requires owners of rental units built before 1978 and real estate agents and licensees to attend lead awareness classes. The law also requires landlords to have rooms inspected with each new tenant. The law affects 145,000 rental properties statewide. The state has said 35,000 children in Rhode Island have been poisoned since 1993 from flaking paint or dust. One group that wants to change the law is the Rhode Island Association of Realtors, which is concerned whether property owners will be able to take the classes in time. The association also said the costs of compliance may be prohibitive for some property owners, which could lead to higher rents. For example, the group notes that lead inspections can cost as much as $300. Also, the association warned that the law could make insurance more expensive for landlords, who’ll pass on those costs to tenants.