What's happening
This bill bans New York schools from purchasing, using, or storing elemental mercury and requires educational materials on its hazards.
Why it matters
Removes a significant source of potential mercury exposure. for students and staff by banning the purchase, use, and storage of both elemental mercury and common mercury-containing devices (like thermometers and barometers) in all New York educational institutions, thereby reducing the risk of toxic spills and contamination.
Pushes schools to transition to safer, mercury-free alternatives. in laboratories and classrooms, except in cases where no practical substitute exists—promoting innovation and updated equipment while balancing educational needs.
Mandates safe disposal and recycling. of existing mercury and mercury-containing instruments, preventing them from entering the environment through improper disposal, and thus aiming to protect broader public health and local ecosystems.
Requires active education about mercury hazards. , ensuring that all schools receive materials to inform staff and students about the dangers of mercury, which could foster greater awareness and safer habits both inside and outside the school setting.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Mercury in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4723
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting the use, purchase and storage of elemental mercury by schools; and to amend the public health law, in relation to directing the commissioner of health to compile and distribute materials for schools on the hazards of elemental mercury and actions which may be taken to reduce such hazards
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. Elimination of the use of elemental mercury. 1. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision two of this section, no public or private school or educational institution in this state shall purchase, use or store any quantity of free flowing elemental mercury for any purpose, nor purchase, use or store any instrument which contains mercury including, but not limited to, thermometers, barometers, sphygmomanometers and manometers.
2. If no reasonably acceptable, mercury-free alternative exists for any instrument prohibited by subdivision one of this section, a school or educational institution may use such type of instrument which contains the lowest mercury content readily available on the market.
3. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of environmental conservation, shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring public and private schools and educational institutions in this state to dispose of or recycle any quantity of elemental mercury and instruments containing mercury in a manner which is least harmful to the environment.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08644-01-9
A. 4723 2
§ 2. Section 206 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 31 to read as follows:
31. The commissioner shall compile, produce and distribute to all public and private schools and educational institutions in this state, materials explaining the hazards created by elemental mercury and actions that may be taken to reduce such hazards.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately, except that section one of this act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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.