What's happening
This bill requires all New York schools to regularly test for radon, report results, and notify parents of radon information.
Why it matters
Radon exposure is a serious health risk. prolonged exposure, especially in children, increases the risk of lung cancer. By requiring schools to test, report, and act on radon findings, the bill aims to proactively protect student and staff health, addressing a hazard that is otherwise invisible and often ignored.
Transparency and parental notification empower families. the bill mandates that test results and remediation actions be made easily accessible and that parents are formally notified each year. This ensures families are better informed about environmental risks in their child’s school and can advocate for safety improvements if needed.
Long-term recordkeeping and accountability. by requiring schools to store radon-related documents for at least ten years and clarify liability protections, the bill creates a paper trail for future reference, supporting both public oversight and institutional accountability while also protecting schools from undue liability except in clear cases of negligence.
Applies to all K-12 institutions, public and private. the bill’s scope covers every school in New York, ensuring that radon safety is addressed uniformly and not just in select districts or types of schools, helping to address potential disparities in environmental health protections.
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Who cares
- Watching
Public and private K–12 schools
They would have to conduct radon testing, monitoring and remediation under rules set by the education commissioner and retain related records for at least ten years.
Parents of K–12 students
They would receive printed notice at least annually that radon information is available and could inspect records during administrative hours or obtain copies at a reasonable charge.
- Watching
State education commissioner
The commissioner would set the methods and frequency for school radon testing, monitoring and remediation.
Schools and school employees
They would be shielded from civil or criminal liability for noncompliance unless it constitutes negligence, gross negligence or intentional misconduct, while existing legal remedies would remain intact.
Headline styles
Require School Radon Testing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
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.
Test Schools for Radon
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4687
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL, GOTTFRIED, LIFTON, LUPARDO -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. GALEF, GLICK, PERRY, ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to radon testing in schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 409-m to read as follows:
§ 409-m. Radon testing in schools. 1. The provisions of this section shall apply to all public and private schools and educational institutions within the state, serving students at any level from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
2. Every school or institution set forth in subdivision one of this section shall conduct radon tests, monitor activities and remediation in the manner and with the frequency provided by rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
3. Every school or institution set forth in subdivision one of this section shall make available, in a location easily accessible to the public during administrative hours, the following information:
(a) results of any tests, monitoring activities, remediation or studies performed, or recommendations with respect to radon; and
(b) records of all actions taken or authorized by the school officials, school employees or school district.
4. (a) Copies of the information required by subdivision three of this section relating to radon shall be made available at a reasonable charge and such data may also be available in electronic form if access is easily available and instructions are provided.
(b) Annually, as determined by each school, such information filed during the previous twelve months shall be stored in a location consistent with other environmental and building maintenance documents for a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07388-01-7
A. 4687 2
period of ten years unless such documents are required by federal or state law to be stored for a longer period of time.
(c) At least annually, parents of all students shall receive printed notice from either an individual school or the school district that such information is available. Such notice may be part of a school's or school district's parent information program, including but not limited to newsletters, letters, flyers, and other printed means of distributing information.
5. No school or employee of a school shall be held civilly or criminally liable for any failure to comply with the requirements of this section, unless such failure constitutes negligence, gross negligence, or intentional misconduct. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as limiting any legal cause of action or remedy at law, in statute or in equity that existed prior to the effective date of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.