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Lawmakers call for lead testing in all New Jersey schools

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — All public schools in New Jersey must immediately test drinking water for lead contamination under a bill being proposed by state lawmakers.

Senate President Steve Sweeney and Democratic state senators from Newark M. Teresa Ruiz and Ronald Rice will outline the measure at news conference Monday.

They say the legislation would allocate $3 million to perform the water tests.

The legislation comes after Newark schools shut off sinks and fountains at 30 facilities earlier this month because of lead.

Testing showed elevated lead levels in some buildings for years. And the district has been addressing lead in the water since at least 2003.

The highest lead levels in Newark are lower than peak amounts found in homes in Flint, Michigan, which is experiencing a crisis after changing its water supply.