Montanez School Pesticide Safety Bill Closer To Governor's Signature! California Safe Schools Sponsors AB 405

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Montanez School Pesticide Safety Bill Closer To Governor's Signature! California Safe Schools Sponsors AB 405

SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA, Aug. 23 -/E-Wire/-- United officials from various agencies last week supported Assembly Bill 405, the most sweeping protection for California school children from pesticides. Assembly member Cindy MontaÃ±ez, the author of AB 405, was joined in a press conference by Los Angeles Unified School Board Members Julie Korenstein and Jon Lauritzen, director of Environmental Health & Safety, Angelo Bellomo, Diana Dixon Davis of the PTA and Robina Suwol, executive cirector of California Safe Schools to educate the public on the hidden dangers of pesticides and to urge the passage of AB 405, legislation that will end the use of experimental pesticides in K-12 public schools throughout California.

Experimental pesticides are chemicals that have not received full health, stability or efficacy studies. AB 405, which is nearing a final vote in the state Senate, is one step closer to the Governor's signature.

The bill, sponsored by California Safe Schools, has gained momentum in recent months, passing the Senate Environmental Quality Committee in July and the full Assembly in June. Passage of the bill is expected in September, and then it will land on the desk of Governor Schwarzenegger. It is unknown whether the Governor will sign or veto the bill. The bill prevents K-12 public schools from being used as test sites for experimental pesticides.

"We are deeply gratified at the support this common-sense measure has received from elected officials so far and feel confident that the Senate will also approve the bill," said sponsor of AB 405, Robina Suwol of California Safe Schools. "We urge the Governor to sign this important legislation which closes a loophole and protects children and teachers from being used as lab rats for experimental chemicals.

We also applaud Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest district in the nation, for their proactive actions in banning the use of experimental products at their school sites."

Still, LAUSD and MontaÃ±ez believe such protection should be mandated by law. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that school children and school workers nationwide continue to be poisoned by pesticides.

Supporters include the California Medical Association, California Teachers Association, California School Boards Association, California State PTA, Learning Disabilities Association of California, Los Angeles Unified School District, United Teachers of Los Angeles, American Lung Association of Los Angeles, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, Organic Consumers, Sierra Club and the Environmental Health & Environmental Justice community.

California Safe Schools

Robina Suwol, Executive Director, California Safe Schools, (818) 785-5515

http://www.calisafe.org

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