Bill Text: NJ A4964 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits school districts to apply to DOE for reimbursement of costs of ultraviolet-C lights and air filter units for addressing transmission of COVID-19.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-11-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A4964 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4964-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Permits school districts to apply to DOE for reimbursement of costs of ultraviolet-C lights and air filter units for addressing transmission of COVID-19.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning ultraviolet-C lights and air filter units in public schools and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A board of education that determines to purchase ultraviolet-C lights or air filter units for school buildings in the school district for the purpose of addressing the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 may apply to the Department of Education for reimbursement of the costs of the purchase.
b. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, may develop guidelines concerning:
(1) the appropriate type of ultraviolet-C lights needed to adequately sanitize a school building;
(2) the appropriate type of air filter units needed to address airborne transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019; and
(3) the safe and proper use of the ultraviolet-C lights for purposes of sanitizing classrooms.
2. a. The Department of Education shall establish application guidelines and eligibility criteria for reimbursement of the costs of purchasing ultraviolet-C lights and air filter units pursuant to this act.
b. Within 30 days of receipt of a school district's application for reimbursement, the department shall determine whether a school district is eligible for reimbursement. Within 60 days of the department's eligibility determination, the department shall reimburse an eligible school district for the costs of the ultraviolet-C lights and air filter units.
c. Total reimbursement by the department under this act shall not exceed $1,000,000.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
In response to the public health emergency presented by COVID-19, and pursuant to Executive Order 104 of 2020, schools across the State were required to cease in-person instruction and transition to virtual and remote learning as of March 18, 2020. When the time comes for students and school staff to return to the classroom, it will be imperative that there are appropriate cleaning and disinfecting procedures in place to ensure a safe and clean learning environment.
Under the bill, a board of education that determines to purchase ultraviolet-C (UVC) lights or air filter units for school buildings in the school district for the purpose of addressing the transmission of COVID-19 may apply to the Department of Education (DOE) for reimbursement of the costs of the purchase.
The DOE, in consultation with the Department of Health, may develop guidelines concerning: (1) the appropriate type of UVC lights needed to adequately sanitize a school building; (2) the appropriate type of air filter units needed to address the airborne transmission of COVID-19; and (3) the safe and proper use of the UVC lights for purposes of sanitizing classrooms.
Under the bill, the DOE will establish application guidelines and eligibility criteria for reimbursement. Within 30 days of receipt of a school district's application, the DOE will determine whether a school district is eligible for reimbursement. The DOE will reimburse eligible school districts for the costs of the UVC lights and air filter units within 60 days of its eligibility determination. Total reimbursement by the DOE for UVC lights and air filter units will not exceed $1,000,000.
