AB 821

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law requires the governing board of any school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils. This bill would create the Clean and Healthy Schools Act, and would make findings and declarations regarding indoor air quality and cleaning products. The bill would require all school districts and all nonpublic elementary and secondary schools with 50 or more pupils, by the 2011–12 school year, or when it is economically feasible, to purchase and use exclusively environmentally preferable cleaning and cleaning maintenance products, as specified. The bill would require a school district or school to submit a letter indicating that it will not purchase and use environmentally preferable cleaning and cleaning maintenance products to the State Department of Education and the local governing board, annually, until it determines that it is economically feasible to comply with the requirements described above. The bill also would require the State Department of Education to post on its Internet Web site information to assist school districts and schools to comply with these provisions. Because this bill would require school districts to perform new duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.