GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 418

Short Title:  Haz. Substances Removal Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Winner.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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March 14, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO FINANCE THE REMOVAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING POISONS, CORROSIVES, FLAMMABLES, AND EXPLOSIVES, FROM THE SCHOOLS OF THIS STATE.
Whereas, schools of North Carolina purchase, store, and use a wide variety of chemical substances for chemistry, science, and art classes, as well as for maintenance purposes; and
Whereas, a 1984 study funded by the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology and conducted by the Science Division of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction concluded that the average school system stores 520 different chemicals; and
Whereas, the removal of fifty-one percent (51%) of the former chemical inventory, a large portion of which had accumulated over many years, resulted from that study; and
Whereas, the cost at that time for commercial removal was one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) per school system; and
Whereas, waste management companies have increased the cost of hazardous waste disposal since 1984 such that the current cost is considered to be five thousand four hundred dollars ($5,400) per school system; and
Whereas, the removal of these hazardous substances from the schools of this State is needed to make the school environment safe for our children and our public school employees; and
Whereas, the funds appropriated to improve education should not be used to correct the inappropriate practices over the last 30 years that led to this situation; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Education the sum of two hundred sixteen thousand dollars ($216,000) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of five hundred forty thousand dollars ($540,000) for the 1990-91 fiscal year to finance the cost of removing the hazardous substances, including poisons, corrosives, flammables, and explosives that have accumulated in the public schools of the State.
Sec. 2.  The State Board of Education shall use the funds appropriated by this act to contract with one or more reputable waste management companies for the collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of hazardous substances.  The State Board shall also use these funds for any necessary travel, training, and inventory that may be associated with the proper removal and disposal of such substances.
Sec. 3.  These funds shall become a part of the continuing budget of the Department of Public Education.
Sec. 4.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.