House Bill 386 Summary

• Requires public schools (K-5) and licensed child care facilities in North Carolina to test drinking water for lead at outlets used by children, with exemptions for facilities built after December 31, 1990, or already subject to water supply monitoring.

• Establishes a lead trigger level of 5 parts per billion and requires testing by June 30, 2021 (for facilities built before December 31, 1960) and June 30, 2022 (for facilities built between 1961-1990).

• Mandates notification within 10 business days for safe results and within 48 hours for elevated lead levels, with immediate restriction of access to contaminated outlets and provision of alternative drinking water supplies until remediation is confirmed.

• Creates the Child Lead Exposure Prevention Fund with $8,000,000 in appropriated funds for the 2019-2020 fiscal year to cover testing costs and alternative water supply provision, with cost-sharing requirements based on local economic development tier classification.

• Applies similar lead testing requirements to existing buildings repurposed as schools and charter school relocations before approval, with the State Board of Education prohibited from granting final approval if lead levels exceed the trigger level.