This bill mandates that all buildings used by public schools, private schools, and institutions of higher education in New Jersey undergo testing for radon gas or radon progeny at least once every five years. If a building has been tested within the five years prior to the bill's effective date, it must be retested within five years of that previous test. If a building has not been tested in that timeframe, it must be tested within 60 days of the bill's effective date and subsequently every five years. The bill also outlines that the Commissioner of Education or the Commissioner of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, will determine the extent of testing required.

Additionally, the bill requires the relevant school administrators to identify which buildings will be tested, the specific locations within those buildings, the testing methods, and the procedures for notifying and circulating the results. Importantly, the bill repeals a previous section of law that mandated radon testing in public school buildings, which was considered an unfunded mandate. The new requirements are designed to apply equally to both government and non-government entities, thereby avoiding the unfunded mandate issue.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:20-40