Schwarzenegger Signs AB 405: Bill Protects Kids from Exposure to Experimental Pesticides

By California Safe Schools

Sacramento, CA - Governor Schwarzenegger, who has portrayed heroes on film, became a real hero to more than 6 million children and hundreds of thousands of teachers and school employees when he signed Assembly Bill AB 405, banning the use of experimental pesticides in California Schools.

AB 405, authored by Assemblymember Cindy Montanez and sponsored by California Safe Schools - a children's environmental health organization - is a common sense bill that prevents K-12 public schools from being used as test sites for experimental pesticides and protects children, teachers and school workers from being exposed to chemicals whose health effects are unknown.

"California Safe Schools is extremely grateful to Governor Schwarzenegger, Assemblymember Montanez, the California Legislature and many supporters for ensuring that California's most vulnerable population will now be protected," said Robina Suwol, executive director of California Safe Schools, the bill's sponsor.

To their credit, Los Angeles Unified School District, second largest school district in the United States, has already committed to implementing the measures required by AB 405 and currently employ significant policies to protect students from chemical exposures.

"The fact that threshold levels of pesticide exposure and health studies are currently based solely on an adult male of approximately 160 pounds underscore that children are counting on adults to protect them. With the signature of AB 405, we have taken a step toward fulfilling that responsibility," Suwol said.

The bill's long list of endorsers included the California Medical Association, California State PTA, California School Boards Association, California Teachers Association, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, Los Angeles Unified School District, Learning & Disabilities Association of America, California Communities Against Toxics, California Environmental Rights Alliance, Sierra Club, California League of Conservation Voters and the Environmental Health and the Environmental Justice Community.

For further information
Robina Suwol
Executive Director
California Safe Schools
Box 2756
Toluca Lake, CA 91610
818-785-5515
www.calisafe.org