Bill > S526

This bill aims to ensure safe drinking water in schools. It requires schools and child care centers to annually test drinking water outlets for lead and take remedial actions if elevated lead levels are detected. The key provisions include: requiring the installation and maintenance of certified point-of-use filters at all drinking water outlets (except water fountains), permanently shutting off existing water fountains and replacing them with filtered, bottle-filling stations, and establishing a filter maintenance and oversight schedule. Schools and child care centers must also submit plans and progress reports on lead remediation efforts to the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Public Health. The bill also authorizes the Department to issue technical guidance and regulations to implement the provisions, and allows schools and child care centers to request hardship waivers under certain circumstances.