Bill > H7343

This bill, effective upon passage, significantly restricts the use of pesticides and rodenticides at schools and childcare centers in Rhode Island, with most new provisions taking effect on January 1, 2027, and July 1, 2027. It prohibits the application of lawn care pesticides or rodenticides on the grounds of pre-schools, childcare centers, and schools with students up to grade twelve, with exceptions for playing fields and playgrounds if an integrated pest management (IPM) plan, developed by the Department of Environmental Management and Department of Health, is in place. Emergency applications to address immediate threats to human health are still permitted. The bill also mandates that schools provide parents and guardians with written statements about their pesticide and rodenticide policies and any past applications, and requires schools to send copies of any pesticide or rodenticide application notices to the Department of Education. Furthermore, a task force will be established to study the health risks of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of chemicals found in many products, in artificial athletic fields at schools.

Education

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