HB0895 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 07718 NHT 27876 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB0895

Introduced 2/7/2007, by Rep. Karen May

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 805/8.31 new

Creates the Green Cleaning Schools Act. Requires the Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council (IGGCC), in consultation with other agencies, to establish and amend on an annual basis guidelines and specifications for environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for use in school facilities. Provides that by no later than 90 days after implementation of the guidelines and specifications, all elementary and secondary public and non-public schools shall establish a green cleaning policy and exclusively purchase and use environmentally-sensitive cleaning products pursuant to the guidelines and specifications, except that a school may deplete its existing cleaning and maintenance supply stocks and implement the new requirements in the procurement cycle for the following school year. Provides for dissemination of the guidelines and specifications to schools. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Green Cleaning Schools Act.

Section 5. Legislative findings. Children are vulnerable to and may be severely affected by exposure to chemicals, hazardous waste, and other environmental hazards. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency estimates that human exposure to indoor air pollutants can be 2 to 5 times and up to 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Children, teachers, janitors, and other staff members spend a significant amount of time inside school buildings and are continuously exposed to chemicals from cleaners, waxes, deodorizers, and other maintenance products.

Section 10. Use of green cleaning supplies. By no later than 90 days after implementation of the guidelines and specifications established under Section 15 of this Act, all elementary and secondary public and non-public schools shall establish a green cleaning policy and exclusively purchase and use environmentally-sensitive cleaning products pursuant to the guidelines and specifications established under Section 15 this Act. However, a school may deplete its existing cleaning and maintenance supply stocks and implement the new requirements in the procurement cycle for the following school year.

Section 15. Green cleaning supply guidelines and specifications. The Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council (IGGCC) shall, in consultation with at a minimum the Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, regional offices of education, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, establish and amend on an annual basis guidelines and specifications for environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for use in school facilities. Guidelines and specifications must be established after a review and evaluation of existing research and must be completed no later than 180 days after the effective date of this Act. Guidelines and specifications may include implementation practices, including inspection. The completed guidelines and specifications must be posted on the IGGCC's Internet website.

Section 20. Dissemination to schools.

(a) Upon the completion of the guidelines and specifications under Section 15 of this Act, the IGGCC shall provide each regional office of education, each private school in this State, and the Chicago Department of Environment with the guidelines and specifications. Each regional office of education shall immediately disseminate the guidelines and specifications to every public school in the educational service region. Regional offices of education, the Chicago Department of Environment, and the IGGCC shall provide on-going assistance to schools to carry out the requirements of this Act.

(b) In the event that the guidelines and specifications under Section 15 of this Act are updated by the IGGCC, the IGGCC shall provide the updates to each regional office of education for immediate dissemination to each public school. Additionally, the IGGCC shall post all updated materials on its Internet website.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.31 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.31 new)

Sec. 8.31. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by the Green Cleaning Schools Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.