Chambana Sun

State Rep. Michael Marron (R-Fithian) in pushing a bill that would allow the Vermillion Vocational Educational Delivery System to qualify for an environmental abatement.

“In current state law any education entity is required to complete a lead and asbestos compliance program, which is definitely a good thing,” Marron said when speaking before the House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter School Committee. “We have the Vermillion Vocational Educational Delivery System; basically all the high schools in the county have come together to compile this vocational training program. It’s a cooperative agreement between area high schools.”

House Bill 3638 would ease extraneous environmental regulations for institutions of learning that have already complied with all state and federal regulations.

Marron argues the Vermillion Vocational Educational Delivery System fits the bill in every way imaginable.

“It is housed at our local community college, Danville Community College,” he said. “The program qualifies as an educational entity. Their facility is completely safe. So, it’s housed in the college and they’re being required to go through the exact same process. It’s a redundancy and an extra expense to the program.”

Marron said the newly freed-up resources could be used toward student outreach or in other areas that likewise improve the overall student experience.

“This bill addresses that situation,” he said. “It waives the second entity from putting a second plan in place.”

With Republican state Rep. Thomas Bennett (R-Pontiac) having recently been added as a co-sponsor, the bill has now been referred to the Elementary & Secondary Education committee.