PRINTER'S NO. 775
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
787
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY BRIGGS, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, LEE, KINSEY,
SCHLOSSBERG, NEILSON, ISAACSON, HOWARD, WEBSTER, SOLOMON,
KINKEAD AND HERRIN, MARCH 8, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 8, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in books, furniture and supplies,
providing for purchase and use of green cleaning products.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 801.1. Purchase and Use of Green Cleaning
Products.--(a) The board of school directors of each school
district shall purchase green cleaning products for use by
public schools as is practical and economically feasible. Public
schools may exhaust existing cleaning products prior to the
purchase of green cleaning products.
(b) The board of school directors of each school district
shall develop and implement policies on the purchase and use of
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green cleaning products by the effective date of this
subsection. The policies shall:
(1) require green cleaning products to be used by public
schools;
(2) establish purchasing policies of green cleaning products
that meet third-party certification standards, including:
(i) Green Seal, Green Label, Environmental Choice,
TerraChoice or Ecologo; or
(ii) any other nationally recognized independent third-party
entity that certifies environmentally preferable products that
the board of school directors determines to be appropriate;
(3) establish green cleaning practices, including storage,
application, frequency of use and disposal of supplies to ensure
that the occupants of a school building do not suffer any
adverse health effects as a result of these practices;
(4) provide a clear and accurate description of the
functional characteristics or nature of the green cleaning
products that are to be purchased; and
(5) require training for staff on implementing the policies.
(c) Policies developed and implemented according to this
section shall not preclude the use, when necessary, of a
disinfectant, disinfecting cleaner, sanitizer or another
microbial product regulated by the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (61 Stat. 163, 7 U.S.C. ยง 136 et
seq.).
(d) On or before June 30 of each year, a board of school
directors that does not purchase green cleaning products for use
shall provide written notice of the board of school directors'
reasoning to the Department of Education.
(e) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
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shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Green cleaning products." Environmentally preferable
cleaning and cleaning maintenance products and supplies intended
for routine cleaning and cleaning maintenance that, at a
minimum, possess positive health and environmental attributes,
including biodegradability, low toxicity, low volatile organic
compound content, reduced packaging, low life cycle energy use
and lesser or reduced effects on human health and the
environment when compared to competing products that serve the
same purpose. The term includes general purpose cleaners,
bathroom cleaners, carpet cleaners, glass cleaners, floor
cleaners, floor finishes and floor strippers, wall cleaners,
desk cleaners, surface cleaners, window cleaners, whiteboard
cleaners and soap. The term does not include room deodorizers,
air fresheners, toilet deodorizers or hand cleaners.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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