Released on = January 20, 2006, 7:09 pm

Press Release Author = Robina Suwol, California Safe Schools

Industry = Environment

Press Release Summary = Kids & Teachers Are NOT Lab Rats!


Press Release Body =

Sacramento, CA - Governor Schwarzenegger, who has portrayed heroes on film
became a real hero to more than six 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
schoolworkers 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, have 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 :
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
818-785-5515
www.calisafe.org







Web Site = http://www.calisafe.org

Contact Details = California Safe Schools
818-765-5515

California Department of Pesticide Regulation
916-323-2743