HB 329 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0525
11/06
HOUSE BILL 329
AN ACT relative to school district policies governing air quality and temperature issues in schools.
SPONSORS: Rep. B. Sullivan, Sull. 1; Rep. Bouchard, Hills. 24; Rep. Bricchi, Merr. 15; Rep. Cornell, Hills. 22; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. M. Hall, Merr. 9; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires school boards to develop a policy governing air quality and temperature issues in schools, as well as a heat illness prevention and emergency response plan.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0525
11/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to school district policies governing air quality and temperature issues in schools.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Air Quality and Temperature School Policy. Amend RSA 200:48 to read as follows:
200:48 Air Quality in Schools. The school board of each school district shall develop and implement a policy governing air quality and temperature issues in schools. The policy shall address methods of minimizing or eliminating emissions from buses, cars, delivery vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and other motorized vehicles used for transportation on school property taking into account the state anti-idling and clean air zone policies established by the department of environmental services. The policy shall also address methods of minimizing or eliminating poor indoor air quality and temperature conditions.
2 New Section; Heat Illness Prevention and Emergency Response Plan. Amend RSA 200 by inserting after section 200:48 the following new section:
200:48-a Heat Illness and Emergency Response Plan. The school board of each school district shall develop and implement a heat illness prevention and emergency response plan and provide training to school employees on how to carry out the plan.
3 Investigation of Air Quality; Temperature Conditions. Amend RSA 200:11-a to read as follows:
200:11-a Investigation of Air Quality.
I. The school principal, or designee shall annually investigate the air quality of any schoolhouse or building used for school purposes and report the findings by completing a survey provided by the department of education. The survey shall be established in rules adopted by the state board of education pursuant to RSA 541-A. The purpose of the investigation shall be to consider physical factors that can influence the air quality and temperature conditions within the schoolhouse or building. The investigation shall require a physical assessment of the facilities, not a measurement of the air quality. The survey shall allow an evaluation of the following physical conditions that can impact air quality and temperature conditions: general cleanliness, ventilation, moisture control, and chemical use and storage. The completed survey shall be filed after the annual inspection with the department of education, the local school board, and the local health officer. Survey responses shall remain on file for 5 years. Survey responses shall be reviewed during the 5 year school approval process and shall be a factor in the approval process for a public school.
II. The department of education shall notify every public school in New Hampshire how to access the United States Environmental Protection Agency Tools for Schools program and shall [encourage] require public schools to implement the program to help provide and maintain good indoor air quality in public school buildings.
III. Any school principal or designee who has conducted a good faith report under RSA 200:11-a shall be immune from civil liability.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.