Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to require that all
school districts develop plans to mitigate extreme heat in classrooms and
support services spaces and to establish a maximum allowable temperature to
ensure the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. By setting clear
guidelines for extreme heat conditions, the bill will help schools ensure their
spaces are conducive to student learning, reduce unnecessary disruptions, and
provide for the health and safety of all those in their buildings."Extreme
heat can significantly impact a student's concentration, focus and ability to
learn,” Governor
Hochul said. "With this new law, we are continuing to
make the health and safety of our kids and educators a top priority and
ensuring that every New York student has access to the safe and comfortable
learning environment they deserve."
Legislation
S3397-A/A9011-A establishes 88 degrees as the maximum
temperature in classrooms and support services spaces. It requires a plan for
the removal of students and staff from these spaces where it is practical for
the school district to do so. It also creates a definition of extreme heat
condition days as well as a standard to measure room temperature. In addition
to the above, school districts will be required to take action to relieve heat
related discomfort when classroom temperatures reach 82 degrees. Such actions
can include turning off overhead lights, pulling down shades or blinds, turning
on fans, opening classroom doors and windows, turning off electronics, and
providing water breaks.The Property Maintenance Code of New York State currently
requires a minimum temperature of 65 degrees in all workspaces in buildings
across the state.
Signing this legislation builds on Governor Hochul's ongoing
commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe in extreme heat. In June, Governor
Hochul announced the release of the Final
Interagency Extreme Heat Action Plan, which advanced her directive
to address extreme heat impacts on disadvantaged communities and on New Yorkers
with increased risk of harmful health effects. The effort delivered on a 2022
State of the State promise to coordinate interagency measures and mitigate
local impacts of increasingly frequent and severe extreme heat events, while
also helping ensure State investments prioritize disadvantaged communities on
the front lines of heat exposure.
