Illinois elementary schools and day care centers will have to test drinking water sources for lead under legislation that Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed. Rauner signed the measure with civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson in attendance. Rauner says the new law is a step in protecting children from the devastating effects of lead exposure. Jackson called it a life-saving bill.
School buildings constructed before 1987 must complete testing by the end of this year. Those built afterward have until the end of 2018. Parents and guardians must be notified if there are elevated lead results.
The proposal follows the lead-tainted water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which shed light on the dangers of lead contamination. Children are most at risk to the effects of elevated lead levels, which can cause developmental delays.
