Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 6 - EDUCATION (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-87-104) › Subtitle 2 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION GENERALLY (§§ 6-10-101 — 6-28-206) › Chapter 21 - SCHOOL PROPERTY AND SUPPLIES (§§ 6-21-101 — 6-21-817) › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 6-21-101 — 6-21-121) › Section 6-21-119 - Water bottle filling stations - Definitions

(a)
The General Assembly finds that:
(1)
Water plays an important role in maintaining the overall health of children;
(2)
Drinking water may positively impact children's cognitive performance in school;
(3)
Drinking water may improve children's fine motor skills and visual attention, which helps children with learning activities such as reading;
(4)
Drinking water can help people maintain a healthy weight; and
(5)
It is important to ensure all newly constructed public schools and existing public school buildings undergoing additions or total renovations incorporate adequate water bottle filling stations in order to increase access to free, easily accessible, safe, and good-tasting drinking water on school property.
(b)
Beginning with public school buildings constructed or totally renovated on or after July 1, 2021, the following buildings shall be equipped with water bottle filling stations:
(1)
A newly constructed public school building; and
(2)
An existing public school building undergoing additions or total renovations.
(c)
(1)
The Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation shall approve the plans and specifications for a newly constructed public school building or an existing public school building undergoing additions or total renovations only if the plans and specifications provide for the following:
(A)
A minimum of one (1) water bottle filling station per one hundred (100) people;
(B)
A minimum of one (1) water bottle filling station on each floor and wing of each school building proposed in the plans and specifications; and
(C)
A minimum of one (1) water bottle filling station located in or near gymnasiums, cafeterias, and other high-traffic areas.
(2)
A proposed water bottle filling station subject to approval under subdivision (c)(1) of this section may be:
(A)
Integrated into drinking fountains; and
(B)
Touchless for sanitary reasons.
(d)
A water bottle filling station installed in a public school building as required under this section shall:
(1)
Dispense clean, cooled, filtered drinking water;
(2)
Be regularly cleaned to maintain sanitary conditions;
(3)
Be maintained on a regular basis to ensure proper functioning; and
(4)
Meet Arkansas Plumbing Code standards, which incorporate NSF International Standard/American National Standard 61 as established by the Safe Drinking Water Act,
42 U.S.C. § 300f
, as existing on January 1, 2021.
(e)
(1)
Public school students and public school employees may bring and carry water bottles to school, including in public school classrooms, that:
(A)
Are made of a material that is not easily breakable;
(B)
Have a lid to prevent spills; and
(C)
Are filled exclusively with water.
(2)
A public school may prohibit a public school student or public school employee from bringing a water bottle into:
(A)
A library;
(B)
A computer lab;
(C)
A science lab; or
(D)
Any other location in which it may present an issue to have drinking water near other individuals or equipment.
(3)
A public school may enact a disciplinary policy regarding the misuse of water bottles by a public school student or a public school employee.
(f)
As used in this section:
(1)
"Additions" means academic areas or spaces that are constructed as a part of or separate additions to an existing academic area or space in order to improve the state, condition, or efficiency of the academic facility; and
(2)
"Total renovation" means the replacement of all building systems that are determined by the division to be in need of replacement in order to bring the facility to a "like new" condition.
Added by Act 2021, No. 775,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.