Bills › 88th General Assembly
To require radon testing and mitigation in public schools and including applicability provisions
Topics:K–12 education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2019
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 13, 2019
- Done: House committeeMarch 5, 2019
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill requires the board of directors of each public school district to have a short-term test for radon gas performed at each attendance center under its control at least once by July 1, 2022, and at least once every five years thereafter, and following new construction of an attendance center or additions, renovations, or repairs to an attendance center. If the results of such a test are at or above four picocuries per liter, the bill requires the board to have a second short-term test performed at the attendance center within days.
Read the full explanation
If the results of a second test are at or above four picocuries per liter, the bill requires the board of directors of the public school district to retain a person credentialed to perform radon abatement measures to develop a radon mitigation plan within days. The radon mitigation plan must be implemented within one year. If the results of a short-term test at an attendance center at which a radon mitigation plan has been implemented are at or above four picocuries per liter, the bill requires the board of directors of the public school district to retain a person credentialed to perform radon abatement measures to develop an alternative radon mitigation plan within days. The alternative radon mitigation plan must be implemented within one year. The bill requires biennial, short-term radon testing for any school site at which a radon mitigation plan or an alternative radon mitigation plan has been implemented, which continues until the results have been less than four picocuries per liter for four consecutive years. The bill defines “short-term test” as a test approved by the department of public health in which a testing device remains in an area for not less than two days and not more than days to determine the amount of radon in the air. Radon testing pursuant to the bill conducted on and after July 1, 2022, must be performed by a person certified to conduct such testing as prescribed by the department of public health. Radon mitigation plans and alternative radon mitigation plans pursuant to the bill must be developed and implemented as prescribed by the department of public health. The bill requires the board of directors of each public school district to submit the results of each radon test conducted at an attendance center pursuant to the bill to the department of education on the annual basic educational data survey (BEDS) report. The bill requires the department of education to publish the submitted results on the department’s internet site for public review and to provide the submitted results to the department of public health. Each school district shall also publish its most recent results on its school district internet site. The bill requires the department of public health and the department of education to each adopt rules to jointly administer the provisions of the bill relating to radon testing in schools. The bill also requires the department of public health and the department of education to approve standards for the design and construction of school buildings to reduce radon entry and facilitate radon remediation. The bill adds radon testing and radon mitigation pursuant to the bill to the list of permissible uses of a physical plant and equipment levy by a school district.3.3.16.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.3 may be used from infrastructure and property tax relief purposes to any other purpose to be approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of both chambers of the general assembly.
House subcommittee
Named February 13, 2019. Meeting: Tuesday, February 19 · 9:00 AM · House Lounge.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill requires public school districts to create radon plans, conduct regular testing, and use radon-resistant techniques in new construction. The Department of Public Health is estimated to cost $25,000 to upgrade its database, and the initial testing for public schools is estimated to cost approximately $350,000. The additional costs for ongoing testing and mitigation for school districts are currently unknown.2
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 755 requires public school districts to establish a radon plan and have at least one short-term radon test done at each attendance center by July 1, 2024, and at least once every five years thereafter. All new school construction will incorporate radon resistant construction techniques. If the results of the initial testing are above a specified level, additional testing and potential mitigation will be required. This Bill adds radon testing and mitigation to the list of permissible uses of a physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) or revenues from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) Fund.
Background
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It comes from the natural breakdown or decay of uranium which is found in soil and rock throughout the United States. Radon travels through soil and enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the natural outdoor level of radon gas at 0.4 pCi/L. The EPA recommends corrective action for indoor radon levels measured at or above 4 pCi/L. The EPA has designated all 99 Iowa counties as Zone 1 for the highest average indoor radon potential.
Assumptions
- The Department of Public Health (DPH) will work with the Department of Education to develop the standards, write rules, and handle the influx of additional applications from individuals requesting school testing designation. No additional full-time employees will be required; however, an upgrade to the DPH reporting system will be needed.
- The EPA suggests initial short-term testing in all frequently occupied, ground contact rooms. Public school districts will test schoolrooms within each school building. There are 1,341 public school attendance centers in the State of Iowa with an estimated average of 17 classrooms per attendance center.
- The current cost of a radon test is estimated to be $15 per test.
- Average mitigation costs per building are $6,000 but can vary greatly.
- New school construction is already incorporating radon-resistant construction techniques.
Fiscal Impact
House File 755 is estimated to cost the Department of Public Health $25,000 to upgrade its existing licensing database.
The statewide cost estimate for initial radon testing for public schools is approximately $350,000. The cost estimate for required additional radon testing to public school districts is currently unknown and will depend on the number of radon tests that provide positive radon results. School districts may choose to use district employees trained in radon testing. Initial measurement specialist certification for radon testing is $275. Initial mitigation specialist certification for radon testing is $175. Training for an individual to receive both certifications is $400. It is unknown how many public school personnel already have certification or would pursue certification.
The estimated cost to public school districts for radon mitigation is currently unknown and will depend on the number of radon tests that provide positive radon results. Any costs associated with the radon mitigation process may lead to property tax increases through the additional use of PPEL funds. However, the use of SAVE funds may offset any property tax increases resulting from the radon mitigation process.
Sources
- Department of Education
- Department of Public Health
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- Des Moines Public School District
- Radon Testing · April 1, 2019 · $350,000
- Radon Testing · March 11, 2019 · $350,000
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88th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Similar bills
- HF 2264 Requiring radon testing and mitigation in public schools, and including applicability prov…89th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 2412Nearly identical
- HF 243 Requiring radon testing and mitigation in public schools, and including applicability prov…89th General Assembly · In committeeNearly identical
Matched by wording or an identical title.