H.B. 675
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Apr 18, 2023
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH40349-NH-139
Short Title: Healthy and High Performing Schools. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Harrison.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO ENACT THE NORTH CAROLINA HEALTHY SCHOOLS ACT OF 2023.
3 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
4 SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "North Carolina Healthy Schools Act of
5 2023."
6 SECTION 2. Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new
7 Article to read:
8 "Article 17A.
9 "Healthy Schools.
10 "§ 115C-267.1. Legislative findings.
11 The General Assembly finds the following:
12 (1) Children are vulnerable to and may be severely affected by exposure to
13 chemicals, hazardous waste, and other environmental hazards.
14 (2) The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that human
15 exposure to indoor air pollutants can be two to five times and up to 100 times
16 higher than outdoor exposure levels.
17 (3) Children, teachers, janitors, and other staff members spend a significant
18 amount of time inside school buildings and are continuously exposed to
19 chemicals from cleaners, waxes, deodorizers, and other maintenance products.
20 "§ 115C-267.2. Use of green cleaning supplies.
21 (a) When it is economically feasible, all public school units shall establish a green
22 cleaning policy and exclusively purchase and use environmentally sensitive cleaning products
23 pursuant to the guidelines and specifications established under G.S. 115C-267.3.
24 (b) If adopting a green cleaning policy under this section is not economically feasible, a
25 public school shall provide, until such time that it is economically feasible, annual written
26 notification to the Department of Public Instruction on a form provided by the Department that
27 the development and implementation of a green cleaning policy is not economically feasible.
28 (c) For purposes of this section, adopting a green cleaning policy is not economically
29 feasible if adopting the policy would result in an increase in the cleaning costs of the school.
30 "§ 115C-267.3. Green cleaning supply guidelines and specifications.
31 (a) The Department of Public Instruction, in coordination with the Department of Health
32 and Human Services and a panel of interested stakeholders, including cleaning product industry
33 representatives, nongovernmental organizations, and others, shall establish and amend on an
34 annual basis guidelines and specifications for healthy and environmentally sensitive cleaning and
35 maintenance products for use in school facilities. The Department of Public Instruction shall
36 provide multiple avenues by which cleaning products may be determined to be environmentally
*DRH40349-NH-139*
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 sensitive under the guidelines. Guidelines and specifications may include implementation
2 practices, including inspection. The completed guidelines and specifications shall be posted on
3 the Department of Public Instruction's website.
4 (b) The Department of Public Instruction shall distribute a copy of the guidelines and
5 specifications to each public school unit and each nonpublic school that has 50 or more students
6 enrolled. The Department shall also provide these schools with any updates to the guidelines and
7 specifications."
8 SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
9 "(68) Healthy and Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning and Maintenance Products.
10 – Local boards of education shall be subject to the requirements of Article
11 17A of this Chapter."
12 SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 115C-218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
13 "(a1) Healthy and Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning and Maintenance Products. – A
14 charter school shall be subject to the requirements of Article 17A of this Chapter."
15 SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
16 "(19) Healthy and environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products. –
17 A regional school shall be subject to the requirements of Article 17A of this
18 Chapter."
19 SECTION 3.(d) G.S. 116-11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
20 "(12f) The Board of Governors shall be subject to the requirements of Article 17A
21 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes for all public secondary schools
22 operated under the control of the Board of Governors."
23 SECTION 4. Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by
24 adding a new section to read:
25 "§ 115C-566.5. Healthy and environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products.
26 When it is economically feasible, a nonpublic school that has 50 or more students enrolled is
27 encouraged to adopt a green cleaning policy consistent with Article 17A of this Chapter."
28 SECTION 5. Notwithstanding Article 17A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes,
29 as enacted by Section 2 of this act, a school may deplete its existing cleaning and maintenance
30 supply stocks and implement the new requirements under Article 17A of Chapter 115C of the
31 General Statutes, as enacted by Section 2 of this act, in the procurement cycle for the following
32 school year.
33 SECTION 6. Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-267.3, as enacted by Section 2 of this act,
34 the Department of Public Instruction shall establish initial guidelines and specifications after a
35 review and evaluation of existing research that shall be completed no later than 180 days after
36 the effective date of this act.
37 SECTION 7. No State funds shall be appropriated and no State funds are required
38 to implement Article 17A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, as enacted by Section 2 of
39 this act.
40 SECTION 8. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with
41 the 2023-2024 school year.
Page 2 DRH40349-NH-139
Statutes affected: Filed: 115C-47, 115C-218.75, 115C-238.66, 116-11
Edition 1: 115C-47, 115C-218.75, 115C-238.66, 116-11