AB 578

This bill requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to promulgate rules

requiring cleaning that minimizes adverse effects on human health and the

environment (healthy and environmentally sensitive cleaning) in school buildings,

buildings on University of Wisconsin campuses, other buildings owned by this state,

buildings owned by a technical college district board, and buildings owned by a city,

village, town, or county (political subdivision). DHS must consult with the Council

on Healthy and Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning, created by the bill, in

promulgating the rules. Under the bill, DHS may grant a one-year exemption from

a requirement in the rules if a person responsible for complying with the requirement

demonstrates that compliance would increase its cleaning costs.

The bill requires DHS to include, in the initial rules for healthy and

environmentally sensitive cleaning, requirements to use certain products that are

approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under its voluntary Design

for the Environment Program or by one or more of three specified private groups.

The products include restroom cleaners, general purpose cleaners, hand soap, toilet

paper and paper towels, vacuum cleaners, and carpet extractors. The initial

requirements for using approved products take effect one year after the bill is

enacted. DHS may later modify the requirements for approvals for those products.

The bill authorizes DHS to adopt, by rule, an approval requirement for an additional

type of product for janitorial or sanitation use if EPA, Green Seal, Inc., or TerraChoice

Environmental Marketing (which operates the EcoLogo program) approves the type

of product. DHS may require approval by a group other than one of the specified

groups, if DHS determines that the other group bases its approval on a standard that

is practical and promotes healthy and environmentally sensitive cleaning.

The bill also requires DHS to include in its initial rules the requirement to use

a cleaning system approved by the Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI), a

private nonprofit group, under its Children and Schools standard for any cleaning

use for which the GEI has approved a cleaning system. A cleaning system consists

of specific cleaning products, materials for applying the cleaning products,

equipment, and instructions for a specified cleaning use that a manufacturer

submits to GEI for certification. The requirement to use an approved cleaning

system takes effect two years after the bill is enacted, except that for buildings owned

by this state, other than buildings on a University of Wisconsin campus, and for

buildings owned by a political subdivision the requirement takes effect three years

after the bill is enacted.

The bill authorizes DHS to require approval of cleaning systems by a different

group than GEI or to authorize the use of a cleaning system approved by either GEI

or another specified group if the department determines that the other group's

standard is practical and addresses other health or environmental concerns in

addition to indoor air quality. Under the bill, the requirement to use an approved