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- Committee discharged and committed to children and families
- Referred to social services, children and families
- Referred to children and families
- Referred to social services, children and families
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides for the protection of the air quality at day care centers licensed by the state and head start day care centers funded pursuant to federal law
In Senate Committee · Children And Families · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, the environmental conservation law and the public health law, in relation to the protection of air quality for day care centers
Purpose
To ensure that child care daycare centers and head start daycare centers are not exposed to hazardous or toxic environmental pollutants due to their proximity to hazardous sources; that specifications for indoor air ventilation systems are protective of healthful indoor air quality; that design techniques minimizes the ingress of pest populations; and that construction techniques eliminate lead, radon and other toxic contaminants.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Legislative intent
Section 2. Amends Section 390-a of the Social Services law adding three new-subdivisions 5, 6 and 7. Prohibits the Commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services to issue a license to any child care, day care center or head start day care center if it would be adversely impacted due to its proximity to existing and known sources of environmental health hazards. It also requires that the issuance of day care licenses be contingent upon conditions affecting the building's indoor air quality, including: proper ventilation and air, heating and cooling systems protective of healthful indoor air quality; design practices to minimize pest populations; and construction techniques to eliminate exposure to lead, radon and other toxic contaminants. Requires that any currently licensed day care center that does not meet the requirements outlined in this subdivision, must meet these requirements within one year of the renewal date of the license.
Sections 3 and 4, requires the Commissioners of the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health to provide information to the Office of Children and Families as to existing and known sources of environmental hazards on an annual basis and as requested by the Commissioner of the Office of Children and Families.
Section 5. Effective date.
Justification
This legislation is intended to ensure that day care centers are safe and healthy environments. This measure was provoked by an occurrence in the Town of Guilderland where children were exposed to harmful levels of perchloroethylene from a dry cleaner that had laundering operations on the same premises as the day care center. These protections are accomplished by ensuring that the building's location, construction and design will eliminate or minimize exposure to harmful environmental pollutants. Children may be severely impaired by exposure to pollutants emitted from hazardous areas, and from exposures to pesticides, lead, radon, and other toxic contaminants in the environment. These pollutants can impair their learning abilities, induce sensitive reactions to chemicals, and possibly cause irreparable harm to health. It is critically important that exposure to these hazards be eliminated or reduced as much as possible.
Legislative history
2007/2008 - S.826A Remained in the Senate Committee on Social Services, Children and Families 2005/2006 - S.222 Remained in the Senate Committee on Social Services, Children and Families/Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The law takes effect 60 days after it becomes law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.