Senate Bill S3324D

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3324

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a
maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities


 PURPOSE :
To protect the health and safety of students by requiring that all
school facilities establish a maximum temperature to ensure the
health, safety and well being of students, faculty and staff.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Establishes a maximum temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit for school
buildings and facilities to ensure the health and safety of students,
faculty and staff. School authorities in such districts shall have the
authority to establish rules and regulations in the event that severe
weather conditions do not permit such maximum temperatures to exist.

 EXISTING LAW :
Current law provides for minimum temperatures in school buildings to
ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff, but does
not address maximum temperatures.

 JUSTIFICATION :
The recent heat wave that occurred in early June of 2008, and the
              

classroom conditions that ensued, prompted the introduction of this
legislation. At that time, the heat wave resulted in classroom
temperatures that ranged from 94 to 101 degrees inside many school
buildings. In the city of Yonkers, several students passed out or
became physically ill, while one teacher was sent to the hospital due
to an asthma attack from the excessive heat.

School districts throughout the state routinely close during the
winter months due to a lack of heat or dangerously cold
climate/precipitation conditions, so students and students and
teachers cannot be expected to endure similarly dangerous conditions
that arise from extreme heat. Current law is not specific in this
regard and leaves sole discretion for closing schools up to the school
district, while conditions related to heating, lighting, ventilation,
sanitation and health, fire, and accident protection are specifically
legislated. By establishing a maximum temperature in schools, a school
district will have clear cut guidelines for permitting classroom
activity to continue, thereby ensuring the health and safety of
students and school personnel.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2008 - S.8716 - Died in Rules

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3324A

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a
maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities


 PURPOSE :
To protect the health and safety of students by requiring that all
school facilities establish a maximum temperature to ensure the
health, safety and well being of students, faculty and staff

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1 of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section
409-j to state that all common, union free, central, central high
schools, city school districts, and boards of cooperative educational
services shall establish policies prohibiting the occupiable,
educational spaces in all school buildings and indoor facilities from
use by students, faculty, and staff while such spaces are found to be
ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit or greater.

 EXISTING LAW :
Current law provides for minimum temperatures in school buildings to
ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff, but does
not address maximum temperatures.

              

 JUSTIFICATION :
The recent heat wave that occurred in early June of 2008, and the
class room conditions that ensued, prompted the introduction of this
legislation. At that time, the heat wave resulted in classroom
temperatures that ranged from 94 to 101 degrees inside many school
buildings. In the city of Yonkers, several students passed out or
became physically ill, while one teacher was sent to the hospital due
to an asthma attack from the excessive heat.

School districts throughout the state routinely close during the
winter months due to a lack of heat or dangerously cold
climate/precipitation conditions, so students and students and
teachers cannot be expected to endure similarly dangerous conditions
that arise from extreme heat. Current law is not specific in this
regard and leaves sole discretion for closing schools up to the school
district, while conditions related to heating, lighting, ventilation,
sanitation and health, fire, and accident protection are specifically
legislated. By establishing a maximum temperature in schools, a school
district will have clear cut guidelines for permitting classroom
activity to continue, thereby ensuring the health and safety of
students and school personnel.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2008 - S.8716 - Died Rules

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3324B

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a
maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities


 PURPOSE :
To protect the health and safety of students by requiring that all
school facilities establish a maximum temperature to ensure the
health, safety and well being of students, faculty and staff

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1 of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section
409-k to state that all common, union free, central, central high
schools, city school districts, and boards of cooperative educational
services shall establish policies prohibiting the occupiable,
educational spaces in all school buildings and indoor facilities from
use by students, faculty, and staff while such spaces are found to be
ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit or greater.

 EXISTING LAW :
Current law provides for minimum temperatures in school buildings to
ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff, but does
not address maximum temperatures.

              

 JUSTIFICATION :
The recent heat wave that occurred in early June of 2008, and the
class room conditions that ensued, prompted the introduction of this
legislation. At that time, the heat wave resulted in classroom
temperatures that ranged from 94 to 101 degrees inside many school
buildings. In the city of Yonkers, several students passed out or
became physically ill, while one teacher was sent to the hospital due
to an asthma attack from the excessive heat.

School districts throughout the state routinely close during the
winter months due to a lack of heat or dangerously cold
climate/precipitation conditions, so students and students and
teachers cannot be expected to endure similarly dangerous conditions
that arise from extreme heat. Current law is not specific in this
regard and leaves sole discretion for closing schools up to the school
district, while conditions related to heating, lighting, ventilation,
sanitation and health, fire, and accident protection are specifically
legislated. By establishing a maximum temperature in schools, a school
district will have clear cut guidelines for permitting classroom
activity to continue, thereby ensuring the health and safety of
students and school personnel.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2008 - S.8716 - Died Rules

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3324C

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a
maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities


 PURPOSE :
To protect the health and safety of students by requiring that all
school facilities establish a maximum temperature to ensure the
health, safety and well being of students, faculty and staff

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1 reads: The education law is amended by adding a new section
409-k to read as follows:
Maximum temperatures in school buildings and facilities. All common,
union free, central, central high schools, city school districts and
boards of cooperative educational services shall develop a policy for
ensuring the health and safety of students and faculty on extreme heat
condition days. For the purpose of this section, extreme heat
condition days shall be defined as days when the occupiable
educational spaces are found to be ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit or
greater. For the purpose of this section, room temperature shall be
measured at a shaded location Section 2 is the effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :
              

Current law provides for minimum temperatures in school buildings to
ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff, but does
not address maximum temperatures.

 JUSTIFICATION :
The recent heat wave that occurred in early June of 2008, and the
class room conditions that ensued, prompted the introduction of this
legislation. At that time, the heat wave resulted in classroom
temperatures that ranged from 94 to 101 degrees inside many school
buildings. In the city of Yonkers, several students passed out or
became physically ill, while one teacher was sent to the hospital due
to an asthma attack from the excessive heat.

School districts throughout the state routinely close during the
winter months due to a lack of heat or dangerously cold
climate/precipitation conditions, so students and students and
teachers cannot be expected to endure similarly dangerous conditions
that arise from extreme heat. Current law is not specific in this
regard and leaves sole discretion for closing schools up to the school
district, while conditions related to heating, lighting, ventilation,
sanitation and health, fire, and accident protection are specifically
legislated. By establishing a maximum temperature in schools, a school
district will have clear cut guidelines for permitting classroom
activity to continue, thereby ensuring the health and safety of
students and school personnel.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2008 - S.8716 - Died Rules

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall become law.