Lead Testing in School and Child Care Drinking Water Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-5070
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9]
Introduced: 2016-04-26
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Child care and development

Child health

Education programs funding

Elementary and secondary education

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Water quality

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2016-04-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-04-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Lead Testing in School and Child Care Drinking Water Act of 2016</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a voluntary school and child care lead testing program of grants to states to assist local educational agencies in voluntary testing for lead contamination in drinking water at schools and child care programs.</p> <p>The bill repeals the current program of federal assistance for state programs regarding lead contamination in school drinking water.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5070 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 26, 2016 Mr. Pascrell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide for a school and child care lead testing grant program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lead Testing in School and Child Care Drinking Water Act of 2016 . 2. Voluntary school and child care lead testing grant program (a) In general Section 1464 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–24 ) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: (d) Voluntary school and child care lead testing grant program (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Child care program The term child care program has the meaning given the term early childhood education program in section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003 ). (B) Local educational agency The term local educational agency means— (i) a local educational agency (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 )); (ii) a tribal education agency (as defined in section 3 of the National Environmental Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 5502 )); and (iii) an operator of a child care program facility. (2) Establishment (A) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Lead Testing in School and Child Care Drinking Water Act of 2016 , the Administrator shall establish a voluntary school and child care lead testing grant program to make grants available to States to assist local educational agencies in voluntary testing for lead contamination in drinking water at schools and child care programs under the jurisdiction of the local educational agencies. (B) Grants to local educational agencies The Administrator may make grants directly available to local educational agencies for the voluntary testing described in subparagraph (A) in— (i) any State that does not participate in the voluntary school and child care lead testing grant program established under that subparagraph; and (ii) any direct implementation area. (3) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, a State or local educational agency shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require. (4) Use of funds (A) In general A State or local educational agency that receives a grant under this subsection may use grant funds for the voluntary testing described in paragraph (2)(A). (B) Limitation Not more than 5 percent of grant funds accepted under this subsection shall be used to pay the administrative costs of carrying out this subsection. (5) Guidance; public availability As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, the State or local educational agency shall ensure that each local educational agency to which grant funds are distributed shall— (A) expend grant funds in accordance with— (i) the guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency entitled 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools: Revised Technical Guidance and dated October 2006 (or any successor guidance); or (ii) applicable State regulations or guidance regarding reducing lead in drinking water in schools and child care programs that is not less stringent than the guidance referred to in clause (i); and (B) (i) make available in the administrative offices, and to the maximum extent practicable, on the Internet website, of the local educational agency for inspection by the public (including teachers, other school personnel, and parents) a copy of the results of any voluntary testing for lead contamination in school and child care program drinking water that is carried out with grant funds under this subsection; and (ii) notify parent, teacher, and employee organizations of the availability of the results described in clause (i). (6) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter. . (b) Repeal Section 1465 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–25 ) is repealed.