Bill > H852

This bill, the "School Protection Act," aims to protect children and school personnel in Massachusetts from exposure to environmental toxins and associated health risks. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Department of Public Health, must develop regulations to establish health risk assessment guidelines and procedures for evaluating proposed sites for the construction, expansion, or acquisition of publicly funded schools, including charter schools. 2. The regulations will require the public body responsible for a proposed school site to conduct a public participation plan, an Initial Environmental Assessment (IEA), and potentially a Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) to identify potential sources of contamination within a 2-mile radius of the site. 3. The DEP will review the IEA and PEA, and can approve, disapprove, or request more information, or exclude the site from school use if contamination is found. 4. The Massachusetts School Building Authority and the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency are required to ensure compliance with the site evaluation process and obtain necessary approvals before providing financial support for school projects. 5. Provisions for legal recourse are included, allowing the DEP or a group of 10 aggrieved citizens to seek court relief for any alleged violations of the act. The overall goal of the bill is to establish a comprehensive assessment and approval process to protect children and school personnel from environmental hazards during the school siting and construction process.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H852