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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, School District U-46 (Elgin) conducted routine 
3water sampling and found abnormally high levels of
Legionella; 
4and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, The school district closed its facilities in an 
6effort to protect school children; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Legionella is a bacteria that is found naturally 
8in the environment, usually in warm water; and
 
9    WHEREAS, In situations where environmental factors are 
10favorable to the growth of Legionella in large
numbers and the 
11bacteria is aerosolized, human illness can occur; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Legionnaires' disease is transmitted by the 
13inhalation of a mist or vapor that has been
contaminated with 
14Legionella bacteria; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The most vulnerable population for contracting 
16Legionnaires' disease is individuals 49 or
older, smokers, and 
17people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems; 
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Legionnaires' disease is not transmitted person 
 
 
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1to person; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, The United States Centers for Disease Control and 
3Prevention recommends, when Legionella is identified, to
treat 
4the water; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health has 
6encouraged school districts, prior to testing for
Legionella, 
7to implement and develop plans for the testing if a positive 
8result were to occur; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, School districts are following the testing 
10recommendations as outlined by the
American Society of Heating, 
11Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standards; 
12therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
14NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
15encourage the Illinois State Board of Education and the 
16Illinois Department of
Public Health to work in collaboration 
17with  school districts to develop and implement plans for the

18testing of Legionella; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED,  The Illinois State Board of Education and the 
20Illinois Department of Public Health update the
General 
21Assembly with a report on their progress by December 31, 2016; 
 
 
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1and be it further
  
 
2    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
3provided to the State Superintendent of Education and
Director 
4of Public Health.