Amendment ID: S2962-19

Amendment 19

Sustainable Hand Hygiene Incentive Program

Mr. Oliveira moves that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-

“SECTION ___. To support the Commonwealth’s sustainability and public health goals, the Department of Higher Education, in consultation with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, shall establish a Sustainable Hand Hygiene Incentive Program. The program will support human health and wellness and advance decarbonization, waste reduction, and operational efficiency in public higher education facilities by prioritizing projects that install touchless fixtures to reduce touchpoints and the potential transfer of germs and energy-efficient, eHEPA-filtered electric hand dryers or integrated sink systems to reduce or eliminate the use of single use paper towels. These technologies not only reduce paper towel waste and energy usage but also enhance hygiene and public health outcomes on campuses . Preference will also be given to projects that utilize products manufactured by companies with a demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship, including those that produce hand dryers and integrated sink systems domestically or within the Commonwealth.

To be eligible, institutions must install Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certified systems and demonstrate measurable reductions in paper towel consumption, solid waste generation, and maintenance costs. Installations should be part of broader sustainability efforts aligned with LEED, WELL, or other recognized green building certifications. Participating institutions may receive priority consideration for BRIGHT Act grants or related sustainability funding and be recognized as “Single-Use-Free Campus Leaders” by the Commonwealth’s Office of Environmental Stewardship—contributing to the state’s climate targets while promoting cleaner, healthier learning environments."