On February 16th 2012, California Assembly member Michael Allen introduced Assembly Bill 1726, known as the Public Pool Health & Safety Act of 2012, regulating the qualifications of those persons operating swimming pools, wading pools, water attractions and interactive fountains. Effective January 1st 2014, the proposed law would require every swimming pool, wading pool, water attraction and interactive fountain in California (approximately 1 facility for every 580 citizens) to employ at least one “qualified pool operator.” The City of Los Angeles alone has over 73 public facilities requiring a possible equal number of newly qualified pool operators.
Using the guidelines in the unpublished MAHC’s Operator Training, Disinfection & Water Quality and the Facility Maintenance & Operation modules and the structure of both Certified Pool Operator (CPO) and Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) programs, the bill mandates all aquatic operators undergo a minimum of 14 hours of training in waste disinfection, water chemistry, operation & maintenance of mechanical systems and water health & safety. The state bill would be one of the nation’s first legislative documents to reference the Model Aquatic Health Code’s (MAHC) standards for pool operation and water.
As outlined in the bill, current California health regulations do not include language for cleaning fecal, vomit, blood or other boldly fluid incidents in the aquatic environments. By requiring each aquatic facility to employ a qualified pool operator, aquatics will be regulated to a higher standard and level of expertise as seen in other professional industries.
The bill is currently in committee for debate and may be voted on in the near future. It is a dynamic time for the aquatics industry and this bill would increase the overall good, aquatics already does for the public.
You can find the California AB 1726 online here and please to contact Assembly member Michael Allen to voice your opinion.
Contact Information for Assembly Member Michael Allen
Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0007
Tel: (916) 319-2007
Fax: (916) 319-2107
http://asmdc.org/members/a07/
twitter: @Allen4Assembly
facebook: facebook.com/allenforassembly