SB 544 – 2021 Water Safety Act

Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover); Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Alleghany, Ashe, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes); Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania)

Summary

This bill:

  • Requires the NC Policy Collaboratory to continue to identify faculty, expertise, technology, and instrumentation located within institutions of higher education in the State to: (1) conduct targeted and nontargeted analysis for PFAS through a continuation of the NC PFAS Testing Network; (2) conduct statewide water and air sampling, testing, and monitoring; (3) develop and deploy technologies to mitigate exposure to PFAS; and (4) evaluate and pursue other research opportunities with respect to PFAS.
  • Requires the Collaboratory to continue to report sampling results to the public and other specified entities.
  • Appropriates $15M in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina to be allocated to the Collaboratory, a minimum of $10M of which must be directed to development of a technology that utilizes water filtration or other chemical or physical technologies to remove or mitigate the presence of PFAS from water supplies.

Movement

Filed – 4/5/2021