Healthy Schools Environments Topics A-Z
NH Healthy Environments Program
Legislation Update HB 1171Establishing a commission to study air quality issues in public school buildingsA legislative commission studied the issue of indoor air quality (IAQ) and developed recommendations on what the state should do to improve IAQ in New Hampshire's schools. The commission: studied air quality issues in public school buildings, and the feasibility of implementing air quality standards and performing regular air quality inspections in public school buildings; and investigated and made recommendations regarding successful, cost-effective, alternative initiatives aimed at addressing IAQ in public school buildings in New Hampshire and other states [read more]. Relative to Air Quality in Public Schools The school principal, or designee shall annually investigate the air quality of any schoolhouse or building used for school purposes using a check list provided by the department of education. The completed check list shall be filed after the annual inspection with the department of education, the local school board, and the local health officer. Checklists shall remain on file for 5 years. Checklists shall be reviewed during the 5 year school approval process and shall be a factor in the approval process for a public school. The department of education shall ensure that every public school in New Hampshire possesses a copy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Tools for Schools program and shall encourage public schools to implement the program to help provide and maintain good indoor air quality in public school buildings. Any school principal or designee who has conducted a good faith report under RSA 200:11-a shall be immune from civil liability [read more].
Requiring school boards to develop a policy to address air quality issues in schools The school board of each school district shall develop and implement a policy governing air quality issues in schools. The policy shall address methods of minimizing or eliminating emissions from buses, cars, delivery vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and other motorized vehicles used for transportation on school property taking into account the state anti-idling and clean air zone policies established by the department of environmental services [read more]. Questions or concerns about any of these bills please contact: Ed Murdough, NH Department of Education, at (603) 271-2037. |