SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1883        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 251

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to water bottle filling stations in public schools.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1883        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 251

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act relative to water bottle filling stations in public schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 94 of chapter 143 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(t) to develop requirements and promulgate regulations for bottle filling stations in public buildings; provided that the regulations shall include separate requirements for bottle filling stations in public schools.

SECTION 2. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by interesting the following section:-

Section 236: Safe drinking water for healthy students grant program

(a) There is hereby established a safe drinking water for healthy students grant program. The program shall be administered by the department in consultation with the department of early and secondary education. The program shall be used to discourage the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages by increasing access to free potable drinking water for students in public elementary and secondary schools. Grants shall be used to finance all or part of the costs of purchasing and installing water bottle filling station equipment in a school building, playground, or athletic field.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the program shall be funded at not less than $2,000,000. The department shall, in consultation with the department of early and secondary education, develop criteria for providing funding and outcomes for specific projects. The criteria must include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) the maximum amount of the appropriation that any school district may receive;

(2) the minimum amount that any school is awarded shall be not less than $500;

(3) any district or school may apply for grants to fund bottle filling stations that will be installed in a school building, playground on a school property, or athletic field on a school property;

(4) any school that applies for a grant shall test for lead and copper in the school’s drinking water, or provide proof of such testing conducted up to 5 years before the application for a grant; provided that any school with elevated levels of lead or copper detected within 5 years of the grant application shall install a bottle filling station with a filtration system;

(5) applicants shall receive funds in the following order:

(i) Applicants with a high percentage of students who are eligible and enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program and with elevated levels of lead or copper in the school’s drinking water;

(ii) Applicants with a high percentage of students who are eligible and enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program and without elevated levels of lead or copper in the school’s drinking water;

(iii) Applicants with elevated levels of lead or copper in the school’s drinking water who do not have a high percentage of students who are eligible and enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program;

(iv) All other applicants.

(6) any district receiving funding provided in this section shall demonstrate a consistent commitment to addressing school facilities' needs.

SECTION 3. Section 223 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words, in line 73, “at no cost to the students;” the following:-

provided that the water may come from a public source and be made available for consumption via a bottle filling station;