Bill Text: GA HR1093 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Boards of education; funding to retrofit school buses; pollution control; urge

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-10 - House Second Readers [HR1093 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HR1093-Introduced.html

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11 LC 33 3891

House Resolution 1093

By: Representatives Marin of the 96th and Mitchell of the 88th

A RESOLUTION

Urging local boards of education to apply for federal funding to retrofit school buses with pollution control devices; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, more than 200,000 Georgia children have asthma, and those who do not are at greater risk of developing the illness if regularly exposed to unhealthy air; and

WHEREAS, on average, children in Georgia spend about an hour each school day on a school bus; and

WHEREAS, while school buses are, in many ways, the safest way for children to travel to school, harmful diesel exhaust can build up in the cabins of school buses, putting children at risk; and

WHEREAS, dangerous fine particulates in diesel exhaust can be reduced by as much as 85 percent by installing pollution control devices (retrofits); and

WHEREAS, children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to diesel exhaust because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults; and

WHEREAS, breathing diesel exhaust can contribute to both chronic and acute human health
problems, such as asthma attacks, reduced lung function, lung disease, cancer, and even premature death; and

WHEREAS, to date, 17 school systems in Georgia have retrofitted a total of roughly 1,000 buses; and

WHEREAS, millions of dollars from several federal sources are available to school systems in areas that do not meet federal air quality standards; and

WHEREAS, over the past several years, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has received several million dollars from the federal government to retrofit school buses and other diesel engines with pollution control devices; and

WHEREAS, school transportation directors can apply for funding to retrofit their school buses through the Georgia EPD; and

WHEREAS, protecting children from known dangers and guaranteeing a safe and healthy ride to school should be a priority for Georgia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body urge local boards of education to apply for federal funding to retrofit school buses with pollution control devices.