SB 1088 Summary

• Requires school district and public school academy boards to conduct environmental assessments before acquiring sites or commencing construction of school buildings, with limited exceptions for maintenance and repair projects.

• Mandates the Department of Education to develop guidance on environmental assessments covering air pollution, soil contamination, groundwater contamination, surface water pollution, safety hazards, noise, and odors, including EPA recommendations for exclusion zones.

• Requires boards to provide public notice of assessment results within 7 days through website posting and newspaper publication, followed by a 30-day public comment period with at least one public hearing.

• If the site is identified as a contaminated facility, requires a licensed professional engineer to attest that cleanup activities will meet residential standards, and mandates completion of response activities and corrective actions before construction.

• Encourages schools to form siting committees, develop public engagement plans accounting for fiscal constraints, and ensure disadvantaged communities have meaningful participation in school building site decisions.