All Vermont schools would be required to test their water for lead by the end of the year — rather than within the originally proposed timeline of 3 ½ years — under a bill passed by the Senate.
Jeffrey Francis, executive director of the Vermont Superintendents Association, said his group as well as the School Boards and Principals associations asked that the state pay the entire mitigation cost, because the public health program is being initiated by the state.
“The bill also infers that there will be future testing but does not address the costs or payment for that testing, leaving that to future rules,” Francis said.
We are supportive of the overall initiative.” The push for this legislation was prompted by a pilot program last fall at 16 Vermont schools that found at least three taps in every school with concerning levels of lead, prompting the Senate to push for more immediate action.
The original longer timeline was set based on the processing capacity of the Department of Health labs, but Sen. Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden, said getting these tests done by the end of the year should not be a problem.
“The Department of Health is conducting it,” Baruth said.
The bill put $2.5 million into this, so there’s no excuses on anyone’s part.” Sen. Brian Campion, D-Bennington, called the faster timeline a “money saver,” citing the health risks lead poses, and the health care and educational costs it can create down the road.
Campion said he thinks toxic substances need more attention and regulation across the board, but that this legislation is a good place to start.
“We as a state, we as a nation, have got to do more around protecting people from toxics,” Campion said.
“This is a tiny piece, but it’s really very important.” Gov.