Bill > HB341

This bill requires all Pennsylvania school entities to equip their drinking water outlets with certified point-of-use filters by January 1, 2027, with the goal of reducing lead exposure in school drinking water. Schools must install filters that are certified to reduce lead and particulate matter, remove and replace existing fountains without filters at a rate of at least one per 100 students and staff, and establish a maintenance schedule for these filters. The bill creates a Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund and allocates $30 million from the General Fund to support this initiative, with the Department of Environmental Protection developing a grant program to help schools comply. Schools must prioritize buildings constructed before 2014 and those with pre-kindergarten students, and they are required to publicly report on their lead-filtering systems, post health information about lead risks, and designate a contact person for communications. The bill defines key terms like "certified point-of-use filter" and "elevated lead level" (which is set at concentrations exceeding one part per billion), and applies to various school types including public, charter, cyber charter, private, and nonpublic schools. The legislation aims to systematically address potential lead contamination in school drinking water through a comprehensive, transparent approach with clear implementation timelines and reporting requirements.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=341