as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:39am
A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring schools to use environmentally sensitive cleaning
and maintenance products; establishing guidelines and a task force; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 121A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) For the purposes of this section, the following
definitions apply.
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(b) "Environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products" means cleaning
and maintenance products that minimize adverse impacts on human health and the
environment.
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(c) "School" has the meaning given in section 120A.22, subdivision 4, excluding
home schools.
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By September 1, 2010, a school shall follow the specifications established under
subdivision 4 regarding the purchase and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and
maintenance products. A school may deplete existing cleaning and maintenance product
supplies purchased prior to this date.
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The commissioner of education shall appoint an
Environmentally Sensitive Product Task Force composed of the following members:
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(1) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee;
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(2) the commissioner of administration or the commissioner's designee;
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(3) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee;
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(4) the commissioner of natural resources or the commissioner's designee;
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(5) the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency or the commissioner's
designee;
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(6) the commissioner of labor and industry or the commissioner's designee;
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(7) two members from the environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance
product industry to be appointed by the commissioner;
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(8) two members from environmental advocacy groups with knowledge of
environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products to be appointed by the
commissioner; and
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(9) two school superintendents to be appointed by the commissioner.
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(a) By January 1, 2010, the commissioner of education, in
cooperation with the task force established under subdivision 3, shall establish guidelines
and specifications for the purchase and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and
maintenance products in schools. In developing the guidelines and specifications, the task
force shall review and evaluate existing standards established by the state of New York
regarding environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products, and research and
guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Office
of the Federal Environmental Executive.
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(b) The commissioner of education shall inform schools of the requirements of this
section, distribute the guidelines and specifications developed in paragraph (a) to all
schools, and make information regarding the requirements, guidelines, and specifications
available on the agency's Web site.
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(c) By January 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, the commissioner, in cooperation
with the task force established in subdivision 3, shall review and issue any revisions to
the guidelines and specifications to reflect new research and guidance available. The
commissioner shall inform all schools of any revisions and post the updated guidelines
and specifications on the agency's Web site.
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The guidelines and specifications developed
under this section are exempt from the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14. The
guidelines and specifications are subject to section 14.386, except that notwithstanding
section 14.386, paragraph (b), the guidelines and specifications continue in effect until
repealed or superseded by other law or rule.
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