HB 3713

Abstract

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall require all school districts to undertake a ventilation verification assessment of all mechanical ventilation systems in the school district performed by a certified assessor or a mechanical engineer and shall be based on physical measurements made during the assessment. Provides that if an assessment is performed by a certified assessor, the assessment report shall be reviewed by a mechanical engineer. Provides that the ventilation verification assessment shall verify whether the existing mechanical ventilation system is operating in accordance with design parameters and meets the requirements of any applicable building codes. Provides that the ventilation verification assessment for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system shall follow specified standards. Provides that the verification assessment report from the mechanical engineer shall include appropriate corrective actions needed for the mechanical ventilation system or the heating, ventilation and air conditioning infrastructure, including installation of appropriate filters, installation of carbon dioxide sensors and additional maintenance, repairs, upgrades or replacement. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to make the appropriate corrective actions identified in the ventilation verification assessment. Sets forth requirements for corrective actions, standards, and verification of work. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to supply all active classroom instructors, all school staff and administration, and district leadership with an educational document, in a PDF and a physical format, explaining at a minimum the values of good indoor air quality, including peer-reviewed research demonstrating effects of poor and good indoor air quality, an explanation of airborne transmission of pathogens and other airborne substances, a basic explanation of air changes per hour and relation to outdoor air and filtered air, best practice recommendations for the portable air cleaner and the air quality monitor, including guidance on theory, function, placement, and operation of the monitor. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms that are not mechanically ventilated have at least 2 properly functioning windows, or one window in situations where only one is present, that can open and can safely stay open. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with an air quality monitor that meets specified requirements. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with a portable air cleaner that meets specified requirements. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to supply each school with 5 additional portable air cleaners and 5 additional air quality monitors to be used in school health offices, libraries, cafeterias, and other similar spaces. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to undertake a ventilation verification assessment of all mechanical ventilation systems in the school district performed by a certified assessor or a mechanical engineer. Makes other changes. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that the window, air quality monitor, portable air cleaner, and ventilation verification assessment requirements are subject to appropriation. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Provides that "certified technician means" a person who is certified as a Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing Bureau Technician by the International Certification Board and accredited to comply with ISO/IEC 17024, which is the conformity assessment regarding general requirements for bodies operating certification of persons, by the American National Standards Institute in Testing Adjusting and Balancing or another nationally recognized certifying body accredited to ISO/IEC 17024 in testing adjusting and balancing (instead of meaning a person who is certified as a testing and balancing technician by an accredited organization).