Sec. 8. Healthy schools
576 words·~3 min read·
/bill/118/hr/9131/ih/section-8·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Administrator shall conduct a national assessment of indoor air quality in buildings used by local educational agencies and covered childcare facilities. The assessment under this section, including updates thereto— shall include data and metrics, as determined appropriate by the Administrator, to track progress in, and challenges to, improving the indoor air quality in buildings used by local educational agencies and covered child care facilities; shall assess whether buildings used by local educational agencies and covered childcare facilities achieve acceptable indoor air quality by meeting minimum ventilation rate requirements and other factors as set forth by widely recognized best practices and standards, as determined appropriate by the Administrator, such as ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1–2022, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality; and may be conducted through a survey, an onsite representative sampling of buildings (accounting for geography and building size, type, and age), or other methods or combination of methods determined appropriate by the Administrator to accurately assess the condition of buildings used by local educational agencies and covered childcare facilities throughout the country.
The Administrator shall establish an advisory group to provide guidance and direction in the development of the initial national assessment under this subsection. The advisory group under subparagraph
(A)shall include representatives of— school administrators, teachers, maintenance staff, and other people working in buildings described in paragraph (1), labor organizations, childcare providers, and parents and caregivers; and other interested parties, including scientific and technical experts familiar with indoor air contaminant exposures, effects, and controls. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct the initial national assessment under paragraph (1). Not less than five years following the completion of the initial national assessment under subparagraph (A), and each five years thereafter, the Administrator shall carry out an update of the previous national assessment under this subsection, accounting for— the number of schools certified pursuant to subsection (c); and changes in the guidelines, best practices, and other support published by the Administrator to improve indoor air quality. Upon completing each national assessment under this subsection, the Administrator shall— submit to the Congress a report on the results of such assessment; and include in each such report such recommendations as the Administrator determines to be appropriate for activities or programs to reduce and avoid indoor air contaminants in buildings used by local educational agencies and covered childcare facilities. The Administrator shall develop and promote guidance, best practices, technical assistance, training, outreach, and other support to improve indoor air quality in buildings used by a local educational agency or a covered childcare facility. The Administrator shall tailor guidance, best practices, technical assistance, training, outreach, and other support under paragraph
(1)to the needs of— students; parents and caregivers; educators; childcare providers; maintenance staff and other employees responsible for operating and maintaining buildings referred to in paragraph (1); Indian Tribes; and low-income and disadvantaged communities. The Administrator shall ensure that at least one type of certification carried out or recognized pursuant to section 7 is applicable to buildings used by local educational agencies and covered childcare facilities. The Administrator shall coordinate with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Labor, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, to ensure that any Federal assistance made available to local educational agencies or covered childcare facilities for building construction, alteration, repair, and maintenance is consistent with any guidance and best practices developed by the Administrator under this Act.