25 LC 61 0133
House Bill 543
By: Representatives Berry of the 56
th
, McQueen of the 61
st
, Bell of the 75
th
, Dawson of the
65
th
, and Herring of the 145
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1
relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to require testing of drinking water2
in child care learning centers and schools for lead contamination; to provide for notice and3
reporting of test results and remediation plans; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules4
and regulations; to provide for an exemption; to prohibit waivers; to provide for related5
matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Get the Lead Out of School Drinking9
Water Act."10
SECTION 2.11
Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to12
general provisions relative to education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read13
as follows:14
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"20-1-12.15
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:16
(1) 'Child care learning center' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code17
Section 20-1A-2.18
(2) 'Lead contamination' means a lead concentration level of five parts per billion or19
greater.20
(3) 'School' means any public or private primary or secondary school.21
(b) No later than July 1, 2026, every child care learning center and every school shall22
conduct testing of drinking water outlets for lead contamination and develop a remediation23
plan for any lead contamination identified. Remediation shall be completed as soon as24
practicable, and remediation plans shall include a timeline for the completion of such25
remediation. Such testing and remediation shall be conducted in accordance with rules and26
regulations established pursuant to subsection (d) of this Code section.27
(c) Where a finding of lead contamination is made, a child care learning center or school28
shall:29
(1) Provide written notice of test results and the remediation plan to parents or guardians30
of children and students and to staff members;31
(2) Post such test results and remediation plan in a prominent location at the child care32
learning center or school or on such center's or school's public website;33
(3) Submit such test results and remediation plan to the Department of Public Health;34
and35
(4) Provide an intermediate or alternate source of drinking water that does not contain36
lead contamination.37
(d) The Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Environmental Protection38
Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Education, and the39
Department of Early Care and Learning, shall establish rules and regulations no later than40
January 1, 2026, regarding the testing of drinking water outlets and the remediation of lead41
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contamination as required pursuant to this Code section. Such rules and regulations shall42
include, but not be limited to, minimum criteria for testing drinking water, entities that are43
authorized to analyze drinking water samples, and any intermediate or alternate water44
sources required during remediation.45
(e) Subject to appropriations or other available funding, the Department of Education shall46
be authorized to provide grants to child care learning centers and schools in order to assist47
such child care learning centers and schools in complying with the requirements of this48
Code section.49
(f) Child care learning centers and schools which are classified as public water systems50
pursuant to 40 C.F.R. Parts 141-142 as such regulations existed on January 1, 2025, shall51
be exempt from this Code section.52
(g) This Code section shall not be subject to waivers pursuant to Code Section 20-2-82 for53
a strategic waivers school system; Code Section 20-2-244 for a local board of education;54
Code Section 20-2-2063.2 for a charter system; or Code Section 20-2-2065 for a charter55
school established pursuant to Article 31 or Article 31A of Chapter 2 of this title, a charter56
system, or schools within a charter system."57
SECTION 3.58
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.59
H. B. 543
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