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Bill

S 9539

Relates to reporting of drinking water lead testing in schools

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Siela Bynoe and 5 co-sponsors

Requires public posting of school lead testing/remediation, centralized reporting, and a five-year plan with funding/assistance to mitigate lead in school water.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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Bill Summary · S 9539

Summary of Bill S. 9539 (2025-2026 Session) – New York

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill aims to improve transparency and accuracy in reporting drinking water lead testing in schools and related remediation efforts.
  • It requires the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (NYSED) to establish a standardized reporting system, publish periodic findings, and develop a five-year statewide plan to mitigate lead in school water.

Key Provisions

Reporting and Public Access

  • School districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) that conduct lead testing must:
    • Make copies of all testing results, including laboratory reports, and any lead remediation plans, available to the public on their websites and through other chosen methods.
    • Immediately transmit a copy of all testing results to:
    • New York State Department of Health (DOH)
    • New York State Education Department (NYSED)
    • County Department of Health where the school building is located
    • Transmit results in a format determined by the commissioners.

Centralized Reporting and Tracking

  • The DOH and NYSED must maintain a reporting system that:
    • Tracks and maintains public records of original testing results for fixtures testing above the action level for lead in drinking water (5 parts per billion, ppb).
    • Monitors progress toward remediation after initial testing across each school district/BOCES and their status as a public water system under federal regulations (40 CFR parts 141 and 142).

Triennial and Accessibility Reports

  • The commissioners (DOH and NYSED) must publish a joint report every three years (triennially) based on the findings from testing conducted under this section.
  • The report must be submitted to:
    • The DOH Commissioner
    • The Governor
    • The Temporary President of the Senate
    • The Speaker of the Assembly
  • The report must be made available on both the DOH and NYSED websites.

Five-Year Mitigation Plan

  • Within 180 days of the bill’s effective date, DOH must create and issue a five-year plan outlining:
    • Proposals to mitigate the persistence of lead in school water across New York
    • Any funding or technical assistance the department intends to provide to school districts to support testing and remediation

Affected Entities

  • Public school districts
  • Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
  • Schools classified as public water systems under federal drinking water regulations
  • County health departments
  • State agencies: Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (NYSED)

Timeline and Effective Date

  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • Within 180 days of enactment: DOH to issue a five-year statewide mitigation plan with funding/technical assistance details.
  • Ongoing: Public reporting requirements and triennial reporting cycle begin after implementation, with data retained and accessible on state agency websites.

Additional Context

  • The bill expands transparency by mandating public access to testing results and remediation plans.
  • It strengthens data collection by requiring standardized formats for reporting to state agencies.
  • It institutionalizes strategic planning through a five-year mitigation plan and recurring triannual reporting to inform policymakers and the public.

Practical Implications

  • School districts will need to ensure timely online posting of testing results and remediation plans.
  • DOH and NYSED will coordinate to maintain a centralized, publicly accessible dataset and publish periodic statewide findings.
  • Districts may receive state support or guidance under the forthcoming five-year plan to aid testing and remediation efforts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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