AB 496: Pupil nutrition: fresh drinking water: funding.

Existing law requires a school district to provide access to free, fresh drinking water during meal times in the food service areas of the schools under its jurisdiction, unless the governing board of the school district adopts a resolution stating that it is unable to comply with that requirement, as specified.

This bill would authorize the State Department of Education to receive funds transferred from available state and federal sources, to be allocated to school districts for purposes of complying with the requirement for providing access to drinking water specified above, and would require the department to consult with specified state agencies, including the State Water Resources Control Board, to identify available sources of funding for school water quality and infrastructure and to post that information on the departments Internet Web site. The bill would authorize school districts to use those funds for water quality projects, including, but not limited to, water treatment, water facilities restructuring, water filling stations, and maintenance of water facilities, subject to all laws, guidelines, policies, and criteria applicable to the funds.