HP0802, LD 1079, item 1, An Act To Require Public Schools To Periodically Test for Radon

An Act To Require Public Schools To Periodically Test for Radon

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4013 is enacted to read:

§ 4013. Radon

1. Testing required. In accordance with a schedule developed by the department, a school administrative unit shall hire a person registered with the division of environmental health within the Department of Health and Human Services under the Radon Registration Act to test an occupied elementary school, secondary school or other building of the school administrative unit every 5 years for radon. The method of testing must comply with school testing standards recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The school administrative unit shall maintain, make available for review and notify parents, faculty and staff of test results under this subsection. The school administrative unit shall report radon test results to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Health and Human Services shall prepare a report of the test results from all school administrative units tested and no later than October 1, 2025 and every 5 years thereafter shall submit the report to the Legislature and the Governor.

2. Funding. When funds are available, the department shall disburse money to school administrative units to use for radon testing. The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

3. New schools. A school administrative unit, when building a new elementary school, secondary school or other building, shall use radon-resistant new construction techniques as shown in the United States Environmental Protection Agency document, "Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings" or subsequent document issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Sec. 2. Testing schedule. The Department of Education shall establish a schedule for testing for radon in school buildings pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4013, subsection 1 that ensures that such testing is conducted in 20% of school administrative units in the State each year beginning in 2020.

summary

This bill requires school administrative units to test schools and other buildings for radon every 5 years. The radon testing must comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's recommended testing standards for schools. A school administrative unit must notify parents, faculty and staff of the test results and must report test results to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Health and Human Services must report these results every 5 years to the Governor and the Legislature.

The bill also requires school administrative units to build new schools and buildings using radon-resistant new construction techniques as recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

HP0802 LD 1079	Session - 129th Maine Legislature		LR 1925 Item 1
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