2021 -- H 5518

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LC001714

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS

     Introduced By: Representative Rebecca M. Kislak

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2021

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 23.8

AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS

     23-23.8-1. Air quality in schools.

     (a) The department of health in conjunction with the department of environmental

management shall conduct indoor and outdoor air quality tests annually in every school in Rhode

Island, including public and private schools. The department of health and the department of

environmental management shall work in conjunction to perform air quality tests to characterize

the exposure of school occupants to various pollutants that the department of health and/or the

department of environmental management deem(s) to be harmful based on peer-reviewed scientific

research.

     (b) As used in this chapter, “outdoor air quality” means the air quality within a fifty (50)

yard radius of any school in the state.

     23-23.8-2. Results of tests.

     The department of health shall make the air quality test results pursuant to § 23-23.8-1

easily available online within thirty (30) days of receiving the test results and send the test results

to the department of education, and the superintendent of the department/district where the school

is located, or to the school directly.

     23-23.8-3. Compliance.

     The department of health, department of environmental management, and the department

of education shall work in conjunction to create and implement a plan to improve the air quality to

a healthy level determined by the department of health and the department of environmental

management, and based on peer-reviewed scientific research, in schools that have test results that

indicate that school occupants are exposed to various pollutants deemed to be harmful in

accordance with § 23-23.8-1.

     23-23.8-4. Funding.

     The department of health, department of environmental management, and the department

of education shall apply for funding made available by the state, agencies of the federal

government, and other appropriate funding sources to improve indoor and outdoor air quality. The

department of health, department of environmental management, and the department of education

shall administer and direct any funding they receive to improve air quality to a healthy level as

described in § 23-23.8-3.

     23-23.8-5. Implementation.

     The department of health in conjunction with the department of environmental

management and the department of education shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance

with this chapter.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS

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     This act would require the department of health, in conjunction with the department of

environmental management, to conduct indoor and outdoor air quality tests in all public and private

schools throughout the state, on an annual basis.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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