Florida Senate - 2021                                     SB 834
       
       
        
       By Senator Cruz
       
       
       
       
       
       18-00440A-21                                           2021834__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to drinking water in public schools;
    3         providing legislative findings; requiring the Office
    4         of Program Policy Analysis and Government
    5         Accountability (OPPAGA) to conduct a study of the
    6         prevalence and effects of lead in drinking water in
    7         public schools; specifying the information that must
    8         be included in the study; requiring OPPAGA to consult
    9         with district school boards, district boards, and
   10         other interested entities; requiring OPPAGA to submit
   11         the study to the Governor and the Legislature by a
   12         specified date; providing for future repeal; providing
   13         an effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. (1) The Legislature finds that:
   18         (a) The adverse health effects of lead exposure in children
   19  and adults are well documented and no safe blood-lead level in
   20  children has been identified;
   21         (b) Lead accumulates in the body and can be ingested from
   22  various sources, including water sources used for drinking, food
   23  preparation, or cooking; and
   24         (c) All sources of lead should be controlled or eliminated
   25  to prevent childhood lead poisoning.
   26         (2) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
   27  Accountability (OPPAGA) shall conduct a study of the prevalence
   28  and effects of lead in drinking water in public schools.
   29         (3) The study must include all of the following
   30  information:
   31         (a) The effects of lead on the health, growth, and mental
   32  development of children.
   33         (b) The financial impact on the state due to the effects of
   34  lead on the health, growth, and mental development of children.
   35         (c) How much each school district is affected by lead in
   36  school drinking water arranged by most affected to least
   37  affected.
   38         (d) The cost to maintain the lead pipes currently used by
   39  public schools, including pipes that use lead in solder.
   40         (e) The cost for the state to provide point of use water
   41  filters certified by the American National Standards Institute
   42  to reduce lead.
   43         (4) In conducting the study, OPPAGA shall consult with
   44  district school boards, district boards as defined in s.
   45  153.52(3), Florida Statutes, and other interested entities.
   46         (5) OPPAGA shall submit the study to the Governor, the
   47  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
   48  Representatives by January 1, 2022.
   49         (6) This act shall stand repealed on June 30, 2022, unless
   50  reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the
   51  Legislature.
   52         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.