ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 665

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 12, 2018

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 665.

     This bill requires each board of education to adopt a policy establishing temperature control standards and guidelines for school district facilities.  The policy must ensure, to the greatest extent feasible, that school buildings provide students with a temperature-controlled environment that is conducive to learning.  The policy must:

     1)    require that a staff member is designated in each school building in the district to monitor compliance with the standards and initiate permitted corrective action;

     2)    establish a protocol to follow in instances where classroom temperatures are identified as being not conducive to learning;

     3)    identify what temperature control measures are permitted in accordance with local building and fire codes;

     4)    be informed by the Indoor Air Quality Standard established by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and

     5)    require that corrective measures be addressed, where feasible, by action outlined in the Indoor Air Quality Standard.

     The bill directs the Department of Education and the Department of Health to jointly develop guidance to assist school districts in establishing and implementing a policy concerning temperature control.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.