New York Consolidated Laws, Education Law - EDN § 409-i. Procurement and use of environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products

1. For the purpose of this section the following terms shall mean:

2. The commissioner of general services, in consultation with the commissioner and the commissioners of environmental conservation, health and labor, shall establish and from time to time amend guidelines and specifications for environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for use in elementary and secondary school facilities.  For the purpose of developing appropriate criteria for such guidelines and specifications, such commissioners shall review and evaluate existing research regarding environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products, including but not limited to, research and guidance issued by the United States environmental protection agency and the office of the federal environmental executive.  In developing such guidelines, the commissioner of general services shall provide public notice and an opportunity to comment.  Such guidelines shall be followed by elementary and secondary schools to identify and procure environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products which are available in the form, function and utility generally used by elementary and secondary schools in their facilities.

3. The commissioner of general services shall disseminate to all elementary and secondary schools guidelines and specifications for the purchase and use of environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products in elementary and secondary schools for use in their facilities.  The commissioner of general services shall also prepare and disseminate to all elementary and secondary schools a sample list of such environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products that meet these guidelines or specifications.  The commissioner of general services shall provide assistance and guidance to elementary and secondary schools in carrying out the requirements of this section.  Elementary and secondary schools shall follow such guidelines, specifications and sample list when purchasing cleaning and maintenance products for use in their facilities.

4. Elementary and secondary schools shall notify their personnel of the availability of such guidelines, specifications and sample list.

5. On or before June first, two thousand seven, the department, in consultation with the office of general services, shall issue a report providing an analysis of the impact of such guidelines and specifications on the purchasing, procurement and use of environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products by elementary and secondary schools.  Nothing in this section shall preclude an elementary or secondary school from depleting existing cleaning and maintenance supply stores purchased prior to the effective date of this section.