Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 775 of the Regular Session
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S3/17/21
2 93rd General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2021 SENATE BILL 532
4
5 By: Senator J. English
6 By: Representatives Deffenbaugh, Evans
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT CONCERNING WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS; TO
10 REQUIRE ALL NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
11 EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDERGOING ADDITIONS OR TOTAL
12 RENOVATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR WATER BOTTLE FILLING
13 STATIONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
14
15
16 Subtitle
17 TO REQUIRE ALL NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PUBLIC
18 SCHOOLS AND EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
19 UNDERGOING ADDITIONS OR TOTAL RENOVATIONS
20 TO PROVIDE FOR WATER BOTTLE FILLING
21 STATIONS.
22
23
24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
25
26 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 21, Subchapter 1, is amended
27 to add an additional section to read as follows:
28 6-21-119. Water bottle filling stations.
29 (a) The General Assembly finds that:
30 (1) Water plays an important role in maintaining the overall
31 health of children;
32 (2) Drinking water may positively impact children's cognitive
33 performance in school;
34 (3) Drinking water may improve children's fine motor skills and
35 visual attention, which helps children with learning activities such as
36 reading;
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 As Engrossed: S3/17/21 SB532
1 (4) Drinking water can help people maintain a healthy weight;
2 and
3 (5) It is important to ensure all newly constructed public
4 schools and existing public school buildings undergoing additions or total
5 renovations incorporate adequate water bottle filling stations in order to
6 increase access to free, easily accessible, safe, and good-tasting drinking
7 water on school property.
8 (b) Beginning with public school buildings constructed or totally
9 renovated on or after July 1, 2021, the following buildings shall be equipped
10 with water bottle filling stations:
11 (1) A newly constructed public school building; and
12 (2) An existing public school building undergoing additions or
13 total renovations.
14 (c)(1) The Division of Public School Academic Facilities and
15 Transportation shall approve the plans and specifications for a newly
16 constructed public school building or an existing public school building
17 undergoing additions or total renovations only if the plans and
18 specifications provide for the following:
19 (A) A minimum of one (1) water bottle filling station per
20 one hundred (100) people;
21 (B) A minimum of one (1) water bottle filling station on
22 each floor and wing of each school building proposed in the plans and
23 specifications; and
24 (C) A minimum of one (1) water bottle filling station
25 located in or near gymnasiums, cafeterias, and other high-traffic areas.
26 (2) A proposed water bottle filling station subject to approval
27 under subdivision (c)(1) of this section may be:
28 (A) Integrated into drinking fountains; and
29 (B) Touchless for sanitary reasons.
30 (d) A water bottle filling station installed in a public school
31 building as required under this section shall:
32 (1) Dispense clean, cooled, filtered drinking water;
33 (2) Be regularly cleaned to maintain sanitary conditions;
34 (3) Be maintained on a regular basis to ensure proper
35 functioning; and
36 (4) Meet Arkansas Plumbing Code standards, which incorporate
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 As Engrossed: S3/17/21 SB532
1 National Sanitation Foundation Standard 61 as established by the Safe
2 Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f, as existing on January 1, 2021.
3 (e)(1) Public school students and public school employees may bring
4 and carry water bottles to school, including in public school classrooms,
5 that:
6 (A) Are made of a material that is not easily breakable;
7 (B) Have a lid to prevent spills; and
8 (C) Are filled exclusively with water.
9 (2) A public school may prohibit a public school student or
10 public school employee from bringing a water bottle into:
11 (A) A library;
12 (B) A computer lab;
13 (C) A science lab; or
14 (D) Any other location in which it may present an issue to
15 have drinking water near other individuals or equipment.
16 (3) A public school may enact a disciplinary policy regarding
17 the misuse of water bottles by a public school student or a public school
18 employee.
19 (f) As used in this section:
20 (1) "Additions" means academic areas or spaces that are
21 constructed as a part of or separate additions to an existing academic area
22 or space in order to improve the state, condition, or efficiency of the
23 academic facility; and
24 (2) "Total renovation" means the replacement of all building
25 systems that are determined by the division to be in need of replacement in
26 order to bring the facility to a "like new" condition.
27
28
29 /s/J. English
30
31
32 APPROVED: 4/20/21
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34
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36
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