Bill > S2920

Introduced Session

This bill would require institutions of higher education to test for lead in drinking water annually, report the test results, and install lead filters or treatment devices. Specifically, under the bill, each institution of higher education in the State would be required to test each drinking water outlet used at the institution for the presence of lead no later than 90 days after the effective date of the act, and repeat the testing at least once annually. The testing would have to be conducted by a laboratory certified for this purpose by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and in accordance with the sampling and testing methods provided by the DEP. Within 30 days after completion of the testing, each institution of higher education would be required to: 1) provide a copy of the test results to the Secretary of Higher Education and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; 2) post the test results on its Internet website; and 3) notify students, faculty, and staff, electronically or in writing, of the test results and the actions being taken to remediate any lead issues. Under the bill, if testing reveals an elevated lead level at a drinking water outlet, the institution of higher education must immediately close off access to the outlet and provide an alternate source of drinking water until such time as the lead level in the drinking water is tested to be below the federal or State standard for lead in drinking water, whichever is more stringent. In addition, each institution would be required to identify each building at the institution that contains lead pipes, lead solder, or fixtures containing lead, and provide a list of the identified buildings to the Secretary of Higher Education. Each institution would be required to install a water filter or water treatment device on each drinking water outlet in the identified buildings, and maintain those devices appropriately.

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Committee Categories

Sandra Cunningham (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee (on 01/23/2017)