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Bill

A 11112

Relates to reporting of drinking water lead testing in schools

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rebecca Kassay

The bill requires public disclosure of school lead testing results and remediation progress, with a triannual public report and a five-year statewide mitigation plan.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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Bill Summary · A 11112

Summary of Bill A. 11112 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and intent

  • The bill amends the Public Health Law to increase transparency and accountability around lead testing in drinking water in schools.
  • It requires a standardized, public-facing reporting system for lead testing results and mandates a state-commissioned five-year plan to mitigate lead in school water.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Public disclosure of testing results

    • 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 the district’s website and by other means chosen by the district.
      • Immediately transmit copies of testing results to:
      • New York State Department of Health (DOH)
      • New York State Education Department (SED)
      • County Department of Health (in the local jurisdiction of the school building)
      • Transmissions must be in a format determined by the commissioners.
    • The DOH and SED must publish a public report every three years (triennially) based on tap water testing results from testing conducted under this section.
      • The report must be sent to the Commissioner of Health, the Governor, the Temporary President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly.
      • The report must be posted on the DOH and SED websites.
    • The state’s reporting system must track and maintain public records of:
      • Original testing results for fixtures testing above the action level for lead (5 parts per billion, ppb).
      • Progress toward remediation after initial testing, across each school district/BOCES conducting testing.

  2. Five-year plan to mitigate lead in school water

    • Within 180 days of the effective date of this subdivision, the DOH must create and issue a five-year plan outlining:
      • Proposals to mitigate the persistence of lead in school drinking water across the state.
      • Specifics on any funding or technical assistance the DOH intends to provide to school districts to support testing and remediation efforts.

Who is affected

  • Primary recipients: All school districts and BOCES conducting lead testing under subdivision one of this section.
  • Facilities affected: Schools classified as public water systems under 40 C.F.R. parts 141 and 142 (as these regulations may be amended).
  • State agencies involved: New York DOH and SED, working with county health departments to implement reporting and remediation oversight.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.
  • Reporting cadence: A triannual (every three years) public report based on test results.
  • Initial action timeline: Within 180 days of the bill’s effective date, DOH must issue a five-year mitigation plan, including funding/technical assistance details.
  • Data handling and format: Districts must transmit data to DOH/SED and the county health department in a format to be determined by the commissioners; public results must be accessible on district websites and through other channels chosen by districts.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Transparency and public accountability: The bill significantly increases visibility of lead testing results and remediation progress, enabling parents, educators, and communities to assess risk and district performance.
  • Data integration: Requires standardized data sharing between districts, DOH, SED, and county health departments, with centralized tracking of original results and remediation progress.
  • Resource implications: Districts may incur costs to publish results and maintain remediation plans online; the five-year plan promises to specify state funding or technical assistance to support testing and remediation efforts.
  • Public health emphasis: By anchoring the action level at 5 ppb and mandating remediation progress tracking, the bill reinforces ongoing efforts to reduce lead exposure in school drinking water.

If you’d like, I can provide a one-page policy brief version or a comparison to prior reporting requirements.

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

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