House Bill 437

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE PROPER HAND WASHING FACILITIES IN ALL RESTROOMS BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2022; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH TO ADOPT SIMILAR RULES AND REGULATIONS REQUIRING PROPER HAND WASHING FACILITIES FOR RESTROOMS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations that require all public schools, including charter schools, to provide proper hand washing facilities and materials in school restrooms before September 1, 2022. The rules and regulations must require each restroom in a school, whether designated for students or adults, to maintain, at a minimum, hand-cleansing soap, warm potable water that is no less than one hundred five degrees (105^O) Fahrenheit and individual single-service drying towels or alternatively, a hot-air hand-drying device. The school board of each local school district and the governing board of each charter school shall adopt such policies and take such steps as may be necessary to assure implementation of the requirements of the rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education under this section.

SECTION 2. The State Board of Health shall adopt rules and regulations that require all private schools for the education of students in any combination of kindergarten through Grade 12 to provide proper hand washing facilities and materials in school restrooms before September 1, 2022. The rules and regulations must require each restroom in a school, whether designated for students or adults, to maintain, at a minimum, hand-cleansing soap, warm potable water that is no less than one hundred five degrees (105^O) Fahrenheit and individual single-service drying towels or alternatively, a hot-air hand-drying device. The governing body of a private school shall take such steps as may be necessary to assure implementation of the requirements of the rules and regulations established by the State Board of Health under this section.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.