School leaders would test drinking water for lead by assigned deadlines

People responsible for school buildings would test the drinking water by the deadline assigned to their school corporation or charter school. The dates apply to school corporations and charter schools, grouped by the first letter of their names: A–H, I–P, or Q–Z. People responsible for a school building must seek available state and federal grant money for lead sampling or testing. Testing must be completed by June 30, 2027, for names beginning A–H; June 30, 2028, for I–P; and June 30, 2029, for Q–Z.

The state health department would impose a civil penalty on a superintendent who fails to have the building’s drinking water tested on time. This applies to a school corporation superintendent, or the equivalent for a charter school, who has authority over a school building. The penalty equals 10% of the superintendent’s annual salary for the year of the failure. The penalty applies to the year when the superintendent fails to have the building’s water tested on time.

People responsible for school buildings would follow federal testing guidance and state and federal cleanup rules when test results meet the applicable lead action level. These directions apply to people or entities responsible for school buildings tested under this section. The bill text says to use the Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent 3Ts guidance for testing. When results meet or exceed the applicable action level, it directs the responsible person to follow Indiana Finance Authority guidelines and federal drinking water rules for cleanup.