Bill Text: FL S1648 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Drinking Water In Public Schools

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Failed) 2022-03-14 - Died in Education [S1648 Detail]

Download: Florida-2022-S1648-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2022                                    SB 1648
       
       
        
       By Senator Farmer
       
       
       
       
       
       34-00509E-22                                          20221648__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to drinking water in public schools;
    3         creating s. 1013.29, F.S.; providing legislative
    4         findings; defining the term “drinking water source”;
    5         requiring each school district to install a specified
    6         number of water bottle filling stations with certified
    7         point-of-use filters installed to remove lead;
    8         requiring each school district to identify all
    9         drinking water sources, install a barcode on each
   10         source, and install filters that meet certain
   11         specifications on all such sources; requiring that the
   12         filters be replaced or maintained in a specified
   13         manner; requiring each school district to post certain
   14         signage on certain water sources and to publish
   15         specified information on the school district’s
   16         website; requiring each school district to create and
   17         publish on its website a list of schools that are not
   18         in compliance with certain requirements by a specified
   19         date; requiring each school district to update its
   20         list on a monthly basis; authorizing each school
   21         district to use specified funds for certain purposes;
   22         providing an effective date.
   23          
   24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   25  
   26         Section 1. Section 1013.29, Florida Statutes, is created to
   27  read:
   28         1013.29 Prevention of lead in drinking water in public
   29  schools.—
   30         (1) The Legislature finds that:
   31         (a) The adverse health effects of lead exposure in children
   32  and adults are well documented, and no safe blood lead level in
   33  children has been identified;
   34         (b) Lead accumulates in the body and can be ingested from
   35  various sources, including water sources used for drinking, food
   36  preparation, or cooking; and
   37         (c) All sources of lead should be controlled or eliminated
   38  to prevent childhood lead poisoning.
   39         (2) As used in this section, the term “drinking water
   40  source” means any water source used for drinking, food
   41  preparation, or cooking.
   42         (3) For each district school, each school district shall do
   43  all of the following:
   44         (a) Install a minimum of one water bottle filling station
   45  per 100 students which has a certified point-of-use filter
   46  installed to remove lead. A school district may satisfy this
   47  requirement by replacing existing drinking water fountains.
   48         (b) Identify and install a barcode on all drinking water
   49  sources.
   50         (c)1. Install a filter that reduces lead in drinking water
   51  on each drinking water source by the start of the 2023-2024
   52  school year and thereafter maintain the filters to ensure that
   53  lead concentration levels are below one part per billion. The
   54  filters must be replaced no less frequently than provided for in
   55  the manufacturer’s instructions. Filters and any replacement
   56  filters must be certified as compliant with NSF/ANSI Standard
   57  53. Sufficient filtered water must be available to meet the
   58  drinking water needs of all students, faculty, and staff.
   59         2. For each school cafeteria drinking water source, install
   60  a filter that reduces lead in drinking water and, at a minimum,
   61  maintain each filter in a manner consistent with the
   62  manufacturer’s recommendations. The filter or all of the
   63  filter’s component parts must meet NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or
   64  NSF/ANSI Standard 61, as applicable.
   65         (d) Post a conspicuous sign near each school water source
   66  that is not a drinking water source. The sign must include
   67  wording and an image that clearly communicate that water from
   68  the source should not be used for human consumption or, if
   69  applicable, food preparation or cooking.
   70         (e) Publish on the school district’s website a list of all
   71  drinking water sources at such schools. At a minimum, the list
   72  must include for each drinking water source all of the
   73  following:
   74         1. The date on which the current filter was installed.
   75         2. The date on which the current filter is scheduled to be
   76  replaced.
   77         3. The barcode identification number associated with the
   78  source.
   79         4. Any actions necessary to comply with the requirements of
   80  this section which have been completed or are pending.
   81         (4) Each school district shall create and publish on its
   82  website no later than 30 days after the start of the 2023-2024
   83  school year a list of schools that are not in compliance with
   84  the requirements of subsection (3). Each school district shall
   85  update its list on a monthly basis.
   86         (5) Each school district may use any portion of its
   87  allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L.
   88  No. 117-2, which may be used for school facility repairs and
   89  improvements to meet the requirements of this section.
   90         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.