Assembly Bill No. 496

CHAPTER 664

An act to add Section 38086.1 to the Education Code, relating to pupil nutrition.

[Approved by Governor October 9, 2015. Filed with Secretary of State October 9, 2015.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 496, Rendon. Pupil nutrition: fresh drinking water: funding.

Existing law requires a school district to provide access to free, fresh drinking water during meal times in the food service areas of the schools under its jurisdiction, unless the governing board of the school district adopts a resolution stating that it is unable to comply with that requirement, as specified.

This bill would authorize the State Department of Education to receive funds transferred from available state and federal sources, to be allocated to school districts for purposes of complying with the requirement for providing access to drinking water specified above, and would require the department to consult with specified state agencies, including the State Water Resources Control Board, to identify available sources of funding for school water quality and infrastructure and to post that information on the department’s Internet Web site. The bill would authorize school districts to use those funds for water quality projects, including, but not limited to, water treatment, water facilities restructuring, water filling stations, and maintenance of water facilities, subject to all laws, guidelines, policies, and criteria applicable to the funds.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) Recent studies show that unsafe drinking water plagues school water systems at a startling rate.

(2) Some schools have sealed pipes and turned off drinking fountains due to lead piping and other water system contaminants.

(3) Limited funding and a growing list of needs to rebuild school infrastructure causes the need for clean drinking water to fall by the wayside.

(4) Schools need a one-stop shop where information and funding is available for clean drinking water programs.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to build public confidence in our state’s water systems, and to ensure that schools serving our children have clean water available to pupils at all times.

SEC. 2.  

Section 38086.1 is added to the Education Code, to read:

38086.1.  

(a) The department may receive funds transferred from any available state and federal source, to be allocated by the department to school districts for the purpose of complying with the requirements of Section 38086.

(b) Subject to all laws, guidelines, policies, and criteria applicable to the funds, school districts may use funds received pursuant to subdivision (a) for water quality projects, including, but not limited to, water treatment, water facilities restructuring, water filling stations, and maintenance of water facilities.

(c) The department shall do both of the following:

(1) Consult with the State Department of Public Health, the Department of Water Resources, and the State Water Resources Control Board to identify available sources of funding, including, but not limited to, funding from Proposition 1, approved by the voters at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, funds for safe drinking water programs administered by the department, the State Department of Public Health, the Department of Water Resources, and the State Water Resources Control Board, other state funding, and federal funding available to fund school water quality and infrastructure.

(2) Post the information collected pursuant to paragraph (1) on the department’s Internet Web site.

(d) Nothing in this section or Section 38086 affects criteria established by the State Water Resources Control Board for funds and funding programs administered by the State Water Resources Control Board.



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