The New Jersey School Boards Association has expressed its support for S-2062 in the Senate Environment Committee, a measure that would provide funding to remediate lead contamination in drinking water.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman and co-sponsored by Senator Linda Greenstein, appropriates up to $20 million to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for remediation of lead contamination in drinking water in public buildings, including public schools.
The funds come from the “Clean Energy Fund.” They would be disbursed to public entities at the discretion of the NJDEP in consultation with the N.J. Department of Education, the N.J. Department of Health and N.J. Department of Treasury. All distributions would be based on appropriate documentation and receipts for the cost of the lead abatement.
NJSBA expressed its support for the bill in committee last week. The bill has been reported out of committee but has not yet been scheduled for a further hearing.