HB 1421-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2022 SESSION

22-2714

08/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1421-FN

 

AN ACT relative to lead in school drinking water.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Grassie, Straf. 11; Rep. Nelson, Carr. 5; Rep. Woods, Merr. 23; Rep. Meuse, Rock. 29; Rep. Langley, Hills. 8; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. Knirk, Carr. 3; Rep. Rung, Hills. 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires schools and licensed child care facilities to notify parents of tests with high lead levels.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2714

08/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

 

AN ACT relative to lead in school drinking water.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Licensed Child Care Facilities.  Amend RSA 485:17-a, I to read as follows:

I. Upon the effective date of this section, and within every 5-year period thereafter, public and private schools and licensed child care facilities that have not sampled in the prior 2 years shall test for the presence of lead in drinking water at all locations at the facility that is available for consumption by children. Such testing shall be in accordance with guidance from the department of environmental services. If test results demonstrate the presence of lead in a concentration that exceeds the applicable standard established by the Environmental Protection Agency, the school or licensed child care facility shall, within 5 business days, notify parents and guardians with notification in at least 2 places including, but not limited to, the school or school administrative unit website and at least one method of direct communication via email or printed flyer, and shall, as an interim measure, ensure that the children are provided only drinking water that meets the standard. The school or licensed child care facility shall also implement a remediation plan, as approved by the department, within 30 days of notification of parents or, in consultation with the department, as soon as practicable. The department shall review the plan and any associated submittals within 30 days of receiving them. If 3 consecutive rounds of sampling performed every 5 years are below the standard, further testing shall not be required.  Schools or childcare facilities that fail to comply with requirements for testing, remediation, or parental notification requirements shall be subject to penalties under RSA 485:17.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

22-2714

11/17/21

 

HB 1421-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to lead in school drinking water.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2022

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$0

$119,000

$120,000

$121,000

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Federal

 

 

 

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill would require schools and licensed childcare facilities to notify parents of tests with high lead levels in drinking water. It is assumed that the posting of these notifications by school districts would be done during regular work hours of current staff, therefore, it is not expected this bill would have an impact on local expenditures. However, the Department of Environmental Services, who would be charged with enforcing this requirement, states it would need a new full-time position (Environmentalist IV, labor grade 27) at an estimated total cost of $119,000 in FY 2023, $120,000 in FY 2024, and $121,000 in FY 2025. Federal grant funding would be available to cover the first two years and then general funds would be needed to support this position each year thereafter. This bill provides neither an appropriation nor authorization for new personnel.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Environmental Services and Department of Education