Healthy Schools Act of 2000

California-Parents, health advocates, and public interest groups celebrated the signing on September 25, 2000 of the Healthy Schools Act of 2000, AB 2260. Governor Gray Davis signed the Act, authored by Assemblyman Kevin Shelley (D-San Francisco/San Mateo). The law requires advance notification to parents and teachers of pesticide use in and around schools and mandates posting when pesticides are applied.

"Next year, parents will not only get their kids’ report cards, they’ll also get a report card of sorts on pesticide use in their children’s schools," said Teri Olle, Toxics Policy Advocate and Staff Attorney for CALPIRG. "This is a terrific first step in creating a safer learning environment."

The Healthy School Act of 2000 is a significant step towards improving the health and safety of California’s schools. The Act requires annual notification of planned pesticide use to all parents and guardians at the beginning of each school year and provides a registry for parents to sign up for notification in advance of all applications. The Act also requires schools to post signs where pesticides are applied, to remain for 72 hours.

"With the Healthy Schools Act becoming law, California graduates kindergarten on the path of school pesticide reform," said Joan Clayburgh, Campaign Director for Californians for Pesticide Reform. "Now parents and teachers will have information to better protect their health."

The Healthy Schools Act requires Department of Pesticide Regulation to provide school districts with a manual and training on alternative pest control. Finally, the Act requires school districts to maintain detailed records of pesticide use on school sites, including the name of the pesticide, amount applied and location.

"With the passage of this bill, we recognize that pesticides pose a significant threat to children," said Martha Arguello, Environmental Health Coordinator for Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles. "California will now give parents and children an important tool for protecting their health."

In California, children may be exposed to pesticides used throughout the school system, including in their cafeterias, classrooms, school buses, and playgrounds. A recent CALPIRG survey of the 15 most populous school districts in the state discovered that all responding districts used at least one particularly hazardous pesticide-those linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental harm, acute illness, nervous system damage and hormone system disruption.

Children are more vulnerable than adults to most pesticides and are more likely to be exposed due to their play habits.

In addition to CALPIRG, PSR, and CPR, the Healthy Schools Act of 2000 was supported by over 75 other organizations including the American Cancer Society of California, the American Academy of Pediatrics-California District IX, American Lung Association-California, California Academy of Family Physicians, National Brain Tumor Foundation, California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, California School Nurses Association, California State PTA, Children’s Health Environmental Coalition, SEIU, California Public Interest Research Group, Pesticide Watch, Pesticide Action Network, Women’s Cancer Resource Center and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

For more information on the problem of pesticide use in schools and the Healthy Schools Campaign visit the CPR website at www.igc.org/cpr or the CALPIRG website at www.pirg.org/calpirg.

From the Winter 2001 issue of the Environmental News.