Bill > H991

This bill establishes the Safe Drinking Water at School Act, which mandates comprehensive lead testing and remediation in schools and child care centers. The legislation requires annual testing of all drinking water outlets for lead, with any outlet showing elevated lead levels (defined as over one part per billion) being immediately shut off. Schools and child care centers must install certified point-of-use filters at drinking water outlets within 18 months, replace water fountains with filtered bottle-filling stations, and maintain a rigorous filter maintenance schedule. Each facility must submit detailed testing and remediation plans to state environmental and health departments, make this information publicly available, and designate a contact person to communicate with the public about lead testing results. The bill also requires schools to post specific information at each water outlet, including test results, maintenance logs, and closure status. Schools facing challenges in implementing these requirements can request a hardship waiver, but must first hold a public meeting and notify parents. The goal is to proactively identify and eliminate lead contamination in drinking water to protect children's health by ensuring safe water in educational settings.