Cal. Civ. Code § 191
Reports of lead poisoning; notifications to agencies; records
Operative Text
Section 191. Any examining physician, hospital, public health nurse or other diagnosing person or agency shall report to the director the existence and circumstances of each case of lead poisoning known to them and not previously reported. Such reports shall be made on forms prescribed by the director, and shall be submitted not later than three days after said person or agency first diagnoses or is informed of such case. The director shall by regulation with the advice of the advisory committee and in accordance with sound medical practice define the terms ''lead poisoning'' and ''previously reported''. When a case of lead paint poisoning is reported to the director, he shall inform such local boards of health, public health agencies and other persons and organizations as he deems necessary; provided, however, that the name of any individual contracting lead poisoning shall not be included unless the director determines that such inclusion is necessary to protect the health and well-being of the affected individual. The director shall maintain comprehensive records of all reports submitted pursuant to this section. Such records shall be geographically indexed in order to determine the location of areas of relatively high incidence of lead poisoning. Such records shall be public records, subject to the provision of the preceding paragraph relating to the names of individuals.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 191 establishes a mandatory reporting chain for lead poisoning diagnoses in Massachusetts. Any physician, hospital, public health nurse, or other diagnosing entity must notify the state director of public health within three days of first diagnosing or learning of a lead poisoning case, using prescribed forms. Once reported, the director may share information with local health boards and other relevant agencies, though individual names are generally withheld unless disclosure is deemed necessary to protect the affected person. The director is also required to maintain geographically indexed public records of all such reports, enabling tracking of areas with elevated incidence rates.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 191, a formal state reporting and notification system is triggered whenever a lead poisoning case is diagnosed and linked to a residential property. Because the director maintains geographically indexed public records of reported cases, a property's location can appear in records that are accessible to the public, local health boards, and other agencies. Operators who stay current with lead inspection and remediation requirements generally reduce the circumstances that give rise to reportable cases in the first place.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 191, tenants have an interest in knowing that lead poisoning diagnoses are required to be reported to state authorities within three days, and that local boards of health may be notified as a result. The geographically indexed records maintained under this provision are public records, meaning tenants and advocates can request them to understand lead poisoning patterns in a given area. Tenants who believe a lead hazard exists in their home may consider contacting their local board of health, a tenant-rights organization, or reviewing publicly available records compiled under this section to better understand their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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