HB 26-1391

HB 26-1391 is a Colorado bill that extends and amends previous legislation requiring schools and child care centers to test their drinking water for lead. This means all public schools, including high schools, must check the lead levels in their water sources by using state-certified labs and meet other safety standards. The bill also ensures these institutions can receive grants from a special fund to help them comply with these requirements until 2029. Schools that don't follow these rules won’t be able to get or renew their licenses for child care services. Since the bill has been signed, it is now law and schools must start following its guidelines immediately.

Official Summary

Joint Budget Committee. In 2022, the general assembly enacted, and the governor subsequently signed into law, House Bill 22-1358, which required child care centers, family child care homes, and each public school that serves any of grades preschool through eighth grade to:Test its drinking water sources by having a state-certified laboratory measure the lead content of water drawn from each drinking water source; andSatisfy other requirements concerning the provision of safe drinking water.     House Bill 22-1358 also created the school and child care clean drinking water fund (fund) to help schools, child care centers, and family child care homes comply with House Bill 22-1358.     House Bill 22-1358 included a repeal date of June 30, 2026, for its provisions. The bill extends the provisions, with amendments, until June 30, 2029. The bill also adds high schools (i.e., schools that serve grades 9 to 12) to the scope of House Bill 22-1358, which means that high schools may receive grants from the fund and must satisfy certain requirements on or before dates specified in the bill.     The bill prohibits the department of public health and environment from issuing or renewing a license for a child care center unless the child care center is in compliance with the requirements of House Bill 22-1358 concerning testing for the presence of lead in drinking water.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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