AB 1172

By no later than approximately 15 months after the date this bill becomes law,

the governing body of each public and private school in this state must develop a

drinking water management plan for the private or public school. Under the bill,

each drinking water management plan must 1) specify the locations of filtered

bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets maintained to deliver water for human

consumption, of water outlets maintained for purposes other than for human

consumption, and of water outlets that are shut off or permanently inoperable; 2)

provide at least one filtered bottle-filling station for every 100 occupants of the

school; 3) provide for the installation of a filtered faucet only when the installation

of a filtered bottle-filling station is not feasible and a water outlet for human

consumption is necessary; and 4) provide a schedule for water sampling and testing

at each filtered bottle-filling station and filtered faucet in the school for lead,

perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and a

schedule for replacing filter cartridges used in filtered bottle-filling stations and

filtered faucets.

Under the bill, if water testing under a drinking water management plan

indicates lead at a concentration between one part per billion and five parts per

billion, the governing body of a public or private school must take certain actions,

including checking water filters, ensuring that the filtered bottle-filling station or

faucet is properly installed, and retesting the filtered water. If water testing under

a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration that is more

than five parts per billion or the presence of PFOA or PFOS at a level that exceeds

a state or federal standard, the governing body of a public or private school must

immediately shut off the water outlet, post a sign stating that the water outlet is shut

off due to the high concentration of lead, PFOA, or PFOS, whichever applies, replace

the water filters, and retest the water. If the subsequent water testing continues to

indicate lead, PFOA, or PFOS that exceeds the relevant threshold, the governing

body of the public or private school must 1) within 30 days, send a copy of the test

results and information provided by the Department of Natural Resources about

childhood exposure to lead or PFOA and PFOS, whichever is applicable, to parents

and guardians of pupils who attend the school and to the Department of Public

Instruction and 2) develop a remediation plan in consultation with DPI. Under the

bill, all water testing must be conducted at a laboratory certified for lead and copper

testing using the method approved by the federal environmental protection agency.

By August 1, 2025, the bill requires the governing body of each public and

private school to install filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets in

accordance with the school's drinking water management plan, and to shut off all

water outlets that provide water for human consumption that are not filtered

bottle-filling stations or filtered faucets. Beginning approximately 15 months after

the bill becomes law, the bill prohibits the installation of a drinking fountain that is