HB543: HB543 Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act; enact

25 LC 61 0133 House Bill 543 By: Representatives Berry of the 56th, McQueen of the 61st, Bell of the 75th, Dawson of the 65th, and Herring of the 145th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to require testing of drinking water2 in child care learning centers and schools for lead contamination; to provide for notice and3 reporting of test results and remediation plans; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules4 and regulations; to provide for an exemption; to prohibit waive rs; to provide for related5 matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Get the Lead O ut of School Drinking9 Water Act."10 SECTION 2.11 Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to12 general provisions relative to education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read13 as follows:14 H. B. 543 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0133 "20-1-12.15 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:16 (1) 'Child care learning center' shall have the same meaning a s set forth in Code17 Section 20-1A-2.18 (2) 'Lead contamination' means a lead concentration level of f ive parts per billion or19 greater.20 (3) 'School' means any public or private primary or secondary school.21 (b) No later than July 1, 2026, every child care learning cent er and every school shall22 conduct testing of drinking water outlets for lead contamination and develop a remediation23 plan for any lead contamination identified. Remediation shall be completed as soon as24 practicable, and remediation plans shall include a timeline for the completion of such25 remediation. Such testing and remediation shall be conducted in accordance with rules and26 regulations established pursuant to subsection (d) of this Code section.27 (c) Where a finding of lead contamination is made, a child care learning center or school28 shall:29 (1) Provide written notice of test results and the remediation plan to parents or guardians30 of children and students and to staff members;31 (2) Post such test results and remediation plan in a prominent location at the child care32 learning center or school or on such center's or school's public website;33 (3) Submit such test results and remediation plan to the Depar tment of Public Health;34 and35 (4) Provide an intermediate or alternate source of drinking water that does not contain36 lead contamination.37 (d) The Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Environmental Protection38 Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Education, and the39 Department of Early Care and Learning, shall establish rules and regulations no later than40 January 1, 2026, regarding the testing of drinking water outlets and the remediation of lead41 H. B. 543 - 2 - 25 LC 61 0133 contamination as required pursuant to this Code section. Such rules and regulations shall42 include, but not be limited to, minimum criteria for testing drinking water, entities that are43 authorized to analyze drinking water samples, and any intermedi ate or alternate water44 sources required during remediation.45 (e) Subject to appropriations or other available funding, the Department of Education shall46 be authorized to provide grants to child care learning centers and schools in order to assist47 such child care learning centers and schools in complying with the requirements of this48 Code section.49 (f) Child care learning centers and schools which are classifi ed as public water systems50 pursuant to 40 C.F.R. Parts 141-142 as such regulations existed on January 1, 2025, shall51 be exempt from this Code section.52 (g) This Code section shall not be subject to waivers pursuant to Code Section 20-2-82 for53 a strategic waivers school system; Code Section 20-2-244 for a local board of education;54 Code Section 20-2-2063.2 for a charter system; or Code Section 20-2-2065 for a charter55 school established pursuant to Article 31 or Article 31A of Chapter 2 of this title, a charter56 system, or schools within a charter system."57 SECTION 3.58 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.59 H. B. 543 - 3 -