NEEDED CHANGES IN SCHOOL GREEN CLEANING LEGISLATION H5358

A. USE FROM VERMONT BILL: Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to protect the health of children, custodial staff, and other building occupants through the use of less-toxic cleaning products in public and private schools.

AN ACT RELATING TO PROTECTING HEALTH AND REDUCING ASTHMA IN CHILDREN THROUGH THE USE OF SAFER CLEANING PRODUCTS IN SCHOOLS

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island:

Sec. 1 FINDINGS The general assembly finds that:

1) Institutional cleaning products can contain ingredients that have been linked to new onset asthma, cancer, reproductive problems, developmental disorders, hormone disruption and asthma triggering episodes.

2) Children are more vulnerable than adults to toxic exposures. Children have developing organs, do not detoxify as quickly, and breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. They have frequent hand-to-mouth contact which can lead to the accidental ingestion of harmful chemicals. Adverse exposures and injuries during childhood may have a lifetime impact on health.

3) The Federal Environmental Protection Agency estimates that human exposure to air pollutants indoors can be two to five times and occasionally up to 100 times higher than outdoor levels.

4) Children, custodians, teachers, and other school staff members spend a significant part of their lives in school buildings and are exposed to chemicals from cleaning products, air fresheners, and disinfectants.

5) Health threats caused by the presence of chemicals in institutional cleaning products can result in increased costs to individual schools, school districts and the state in terms of staff time and effort, cleanup costs, school closings and student and staff absenteeism.

6) Custodial workers and teachers have high occupational asthma rates.

7) Safer alternatives that are comparable in form, function and utility as conventional cleaning products containing toxic constituents have been found to be effective, cost- neutral, already in use in many schools, and are readily available in the marketplace.

B. ADD FROM MODEL BILL:

1) Allow an accommodation waiver in order to provide protection for staff and school children who still may be sensitive to a green-rated product.  The bill could allow an individual who works or occupies a regulated building to request [and the facility to utilize] an alternative cleaning product if the individual experiences adverse health effects from allergic or hypersensitivity reactions due to exposure to a listed product.

2) The National Institute of Building Sciences states that “the presence of perfume, cologne, scented cleaners and other scented products contribute to poor indoor air quality and is one of the major access barriers for people with asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities.” Minimizing exposure to products containing added fragrances is recommended to all Rhode Island schools.

3) The bill should also specify the types of products addressed in the policy: general all purpose cleaning products, including floors and floor finishes, carpets, walls, desks, lavatories, windows; hand soaps and hand sanitizers; room deodorizers/air fresheners and toilet deodorizers should be prohibited. Review the Green Seal and Terra Choice websites to see classes of products certified.

C. INCLUDE REQUIREMENT FOR THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATION AS A MINIMUM, ALONG WITH THE PREVIOUS ADDITIONS.

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