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Rauner Signs School Lead Testing Mandate

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation requiring lead testing in all Illinois schools and daycare centers.

It's a mandate that aims to prevent children from being exposed to lead poisoning in their drinking water.

The governor signed the legislation Monday morning at the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on Monday. Supporters who joined the governor said it was only fitting he sign the legislation on Martin Luther King Day, since King was on the front lines of the fight against lead more than 50 years ago.

"Doctor King talked about the scourge of lead poisoning back in 1966, and how it disproportionately impacted disadvantaged children, low income children, children of color," Rauner said.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was with King on the day he was assassinated in 1968, said his mentor would be pleased to see that they have not given up the fight against lead.

"Happy birthday, Martin Luther King," he said.

State Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) said the legislation requires all schools and daycare centers to test the water in all drinking fountains and in all kitchen and classroom faucets to make sure lead concentrations don't exceed 5 parts per billion. The testing costs $500 to $5,000 per school.

Lead pipes were banned nationwide in 1986, but the problem of lead in drinking water persists.

"This really is an issue of justice. I'm very glad we're signing this on Martin Luther King Day. It was something that he was way out in front of. We are way lagging behind, but glad that we are finally taking a step to deal with this true injustice," she said.

Where you get lead exposure depends where you live. Steans said some Chicago neighborhoods are six times more likely than others to have unsafe drinking water, and those are predominantly African-American neighborhoods.

"This will change the system for holding our schools and our daycare centers accountable for lead testing," Rauner said.

Schools built before 1987 – when the national lead pipe ban went into effect – must conduct lead testing by the end of 2017. Schools built after 1987 must conduct the tests by the end of 2018.

According to the legislation, the state Revenue Department must come up with rules for testing daycare centers as part of their licensing process by next year.

Last year, tests found 113 Chicago public schools had at least one drinking source with actionable levels of lead.

The Chicago Archdiocese said high lead levels were found in drinking water at 17 catholic schools.

A Daily Herald investigation found 22 percent of the schools in the 59 suburban districts tested above acceptable limits.

Another 30 districts have conducted no testing.

Lead exposure can cause brain damage, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues in young children.

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