| Topic |
Environment Bill HB 6503 |
Education Bill HB 6426 |
| Phase I environmental site assessment |
Requires LEA and building committee to include Phase I environmental site assessment in application for school construction, extension, or building replacement in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials Standard #1527 |
Requires LEA and building committee to include Phase I environmental site assessment in application for school construction, renovation, or building replacement in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials Standard E1527 |
| Reasons SDE may not approve school building project plan or site |
1. same2. same3. same4. plans for renovation or extension do not incorporate "Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction" |
1. Phase I assessment shows site cannot reasonably meet criteria in regulations for residential properties 2. site has moderate or high radon potential, unless it can be mitigated3. plans call for flat-roof construction4. plans for construction, renovation, or replacement do not incorporate "Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction" |
| Heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) system |
Same. LEA must keep maintenance records for at least five years. |
To be maintained and operated in compliance with Standard 62 (or in accordance with prevailing standards at time of installation) and operated continuously during school activity hours except (1) during repairs and (2) when outdoor air is sufficient. "Standard 62" is the American Society of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Engineers Standard 62: "Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality" |
| Grant computation and HVAC system |
Grant computation and HVAC system Same |
Education commissioner may not include HVAC system in calculating gross square feet per pupil |
| School building project application for remediating indoor environmental quality to include report on building environment. |
No similar provision |
Report to include review, inspection, or evaluation of: 1. radon levels in water and air; 2. potential for exposure to bioaerosols; 3. chemical compounds, including volatile organic compounds; 4. pest infestation; 5. pesticide use; 6. hazardous substances on federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act list; 7. ventilation systems; 8. plumbing; and9. use of space |
| Training for maintenance staff |
No similar provision |
Allows education commissioner to withhold grant approval if applicant does not show that building maintenance staff are receiving appropriate training regarding indoor air quality |
| School construction priority list |
No similar provision |
Education commissioner can approve school construction project to improve indoor air quality without putting it on school construction priority list for General Assembly approval |
| School construction grant amount |
No similar provision |
Education commissioner to determine grant percentages for indoor air quality improvement projects |
| LEA's responsibility for maintenance |
Makes LEAs responsible for facility maintenance, including preventative maintenance components of Tools for Schools |
Makes LEAs responsible for facility maintenance, including maintenance to protect indoor environmental quality, and implement a prevention program such as Tools for Schools |
| Tools for Schools inspection and evaluation program |
When: before January 1, 2008 and every five years thereafter for every building that is or has been constructed, renovated, or replaced on or after January 1, 2003To be reviewed, inspected, or evaluated: Same, plus 12. moisture incursion and13. overall cleanliness. |
When: before January 1, 2005 and every two years thereafter, except if building constructed, renovated, or replaced on or after January 1, 2003, in which case every five years for the first 10 years, then every two years thereafterTo be reviewed, inspected, or evaluated: 1. HVAC systems; 2. radon levels in water and air; 3. potential for exposure to bioaerosols; 4. chemical compounds, including volatile organic compounds; 5. pest infestation; 6. pesticide usage; 7. hazardous substances; 8. ventilation systems; 9. plumbing; 10. building structural elements; and11. use of space |
| Fourth grade health assessment |
Requires health assessment in fourth grade (in addition to existing requirements in grades six or seven and ten or eleven) |
No similar provision |
| Indoor environmental quality committee |
Requires LEAs to establish indoor environmental quality committees for each school facility to increase student and staff awareness of environmental facets affecting health by using Tools for Schools. Committees cannot have more than seven members, including at least one administrator, one maintenance staff member, one teacher, one school health staff member, and one parent of a student. |
No similar provision |
| SDE to monitor guideline development |
Requires SDE to monitor the development of guidelines for new school construction and air contaminants |
No similar provision |
| Whistleblower protections |
Prohibits LEAs from discharging, disciplining, or otherwise penalizing employees for reporting violations or suspected violations of preventative maintenance requirements or issuing opinions or conclusions while participating in a Tools for Schools inspection. Allows the attorney general and chief human rights referee to investigate and take action as a result of such punitive action and incorporates other whistleblower protections. |
No similar provision |
| Definition of "indoor environmental quality" |
No similar provision |
Quality of facets of the environment that affect the health of school facility occupants, including air quality, water quality, and the presence of radon |
| Definition of "school activity hours" |
No similar provision |
The time of day in which students or school personnel occupy school facilities |
| Definition of "HVAC system" |
No similar provision |
The equipment, distribution network, and terminals that provide, either individually or collectively, the process of heating, ventilation, or air conditioning to a building. |
| Definition of "bioaerosols" |
No similar provision |
Microbiological airborne particles, including fungi, mold, and bacteria |
| Definition of "indoor air quality improvement" |
No similar provision |
Remediation of documented indoor environmental quality deficiencies not specifically covered under a health, safety, or building code. University of Connecticut Health Center Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine or other consultants may provide consultation on whether a problem exists and whether it can be remedied through ordinary maintenance |
