INDIANAPOLIS - A bill aimed at protecting children from lead poisoning has seen dramatic changes throughout the legislative session, including allowing parents to sue manufacturers and importers of tainted toys.

But the proposed legislation could die without an agreement in the next five days.

"I hope we get something out," said Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield. "I'm still committed to the issue."

Lawmakers have been assigned to negotiate a compromise, but there have been no public conference committee meetings, and progress on the bill has been hard to come by.

Lead poisoning can cause damage to the kidneys, nervous system and brain and, in young children, behavior and learning problems.

About 1 percent of all children tested are found to have been poisoned, but state officials have said that in some counties the proportion can approach 4 percent.

Experts say the biggest threat to children is lead-based paint in homes built before 1978. Indiana ranks 11th among states in its percentage of such homes, with 1 million homes built before 1950.

As introduced, Senate Bill 143 would have put the responsibility for eliminating the problem largely upon landlords. They would have to pay for lead paint inspections whenever a rental unit is sold, rented or identified in a permit for remodeling or rehabilitation, and have 90 days to fix any contamination.

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