Cal. Civ. Code § 195
State laboratory for lead and lead poisoning detection; specimen analysis; fee; report as prima facie evidence
Operative Text
Section 195. The commissioner shall establish, within the Bureau of Institute of Laboratories, a state laboratory for lead and lead poisoning detection. Said laboratory shall analyze specimens received from children for the presence of lead poisoning, and samples of paint and other materials for dangerous levels of lead. Said laboratory shall analyze tests and samples submitted by persons and agencies not within the department as its facilities permit, and may charge for such services a fee not greater than the cost to it of such services. When certified as a true copy by the custodian of such records, a copy of any report of said laboratory or any division thereof, or of any local board of health, code enforcement agency, or housing inspection agency duly trained and authorized by the director to implement the provisions of this chapter and to conduct inspections for the presence of dangerous levels of lead or lead determinations shall be admissible in any judicial proceeding without further authentication by either the laboratory or by the agency for which said report was made and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 195 establishes a state laboratory within the Bureau of Institute of Laboratories that is responsible for testing children's specimens for lead poisoning and analyzing paint and other materials for dangerous lead levels. The laboratory may also accept specimens and samples from outside parties, charging fees up to but not exceeding its actual cost of analysis. Notably, certified copies of reports from this laboratory, or from authorized local boards of health and housing inspection agencies, carry legal weight as prima facie evidence in court proceedings without requiring additional authentication.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 195, certified laboratory or inspection reports documenting dangerous lead levels carry automatic evidentiary weight in judicial proceedings, meaning property owners and managers should be aware that findings from the state lab or authorized local agencies can be introduced in court without further verification. Operators who maintain thorough records of their own lead inspections, remediation efforts, and compliance activities are generally better positioned to respond to any such reports. Staying current with inspections conducted by duly authorized agencies and retaining documentation of corrective actions reflects standard practice under this chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 195 gives tenants a meaningful procedural advantage: certified copies of lead-testing reports from the state laboratory or from authorized local boards of health and housing inspection agencies are treated as prima facie evidence in court, meaning the findings in those reports are accepted as fact unless effectively rebutted. Tenants who have had a child's blood tested or who have requested an inspection of their unit may be able to obtain certified copies of resulting reports for use in any relevant legal proceeding. Those seeking to understand how to access these reports or how they might apply to a housing situation can reach out to a local tenant-rights organization or a local board of health for general guidance.
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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