April 28, 2003—Aerias, an online resource for IAQ information, reports that approximately 60 proposed bills dealing with indoor air quality are being considered by 27 state legislatures.
Nearly one-quarter of the proposed legislation deals with mold and mold remediation, another quarter on IAQ in schools and the remainder on improving air quality in public buildings.
Connecticut leads the pack with 10 bills, nine of which target school IAQ. The Texas state legislature is considering seven bills, mostly focused on mold and mold remediation.
Seventeen states are working on mold-related legislation, covering a wide range of issues, including:
- Licensing of mold investigators and remediators
- Studies of mold and associated health impacts
- Insurance and real estate
- Guidelines and building codes
- Public education, regulatory oversight and funding
Eleven states are addressing school IAQ in this year’s legislative sessions. Most of the proposed legislation centers on developing standards and guidelines for school IAQ and inspecting schools to ensure good IAQ for students, teachers and staff. The specific issues addressed include:
- Standards and guidelines
- IAQ management plans and inspections
- Training, increasing awareness and IAQ tools for schools
- Funding and reimbursement incentives
- HVAC systems
- Property taxes
- Sustainability
Seven states have pending legislation targeted at improving IAQ in public buildings, with Massachusetts having the most bills in the works. The issues these bills tackle include:
- Tax incentives
- Building ventilation rates
- Building codes
- Guidelines and standards
- Investigation of IAQ complaints
- Funding and state resources
For more information, contact Aerias.
