The Florida Senate

514.011  Definitions.

514.0115  Exemptions from supervision or regulation; variances.

514.021  Department authorization.

514.025  Assignment of authority to county health departments.

514.028  Advisory review board.

514.03  Construction plans approval necessary to construct, develop, or modify public swimming pools or bathing places.

514.031  Permit necessary to operate public swimming pool or bathing place.

514.033  Creation of fee schedules authorized.

514.04  Right of entry.

514.05  Denial, suspension, or revocation of permit; administrative fines.

514.06  Injunction to restrain violations.

514.071  Certification of swimming instructors and lifeguards required.

514.075  Public pool service technician; certification.

514.081  Saving clause.

514.011  Definitions.--As used in this chapter:

(1)  "Department" means the Department of Health.

(2)  "Public swimming pool" or "public pool" means a watertight structure of concrete, masonry, or other approved materials which is located either indoors or outdoors, used for bathing or swimming by humans, and filled with a filtered and disinfected water supply, together with buildings, appurtenances, and equipment used in connection therewith. A public swimming pool or public pool shall mean a conventional pool, spa-type pool, wading pool, special purpose pool, or water recreation attraction, to which admission may be gained with or without payment of a fee and includes, but is not limited to, pools operated by or serving camps, churches, cities, counties, day care centers, group home facilities for eight or more clients, health spas, institutions, parks, state agencies, schools, subdivisions, or the cooperative living-type projects of five or more living units, such as apartments, boardinghouses, hotels, mobile home parks, motels, recreational vehicle parks, and townhouses.

(3)  "Private pool" means a facility used only by an individual, family, or living unit members and their guests which does not serve any type of cooperative housing or joint tenancy of five or more living units.

(4)  "Public bathing place" means a body of water, natural or modified by humans, for swimming, diving, and recreational bathing, together with adjacent shoreline or land area, buildings, equipment, and appurtenances pertaining thereto, used by consent of the owner or owners and held out to the public by any person or public body, irrespective of whether a fee is charged for the use thereof. The bathing water areas of public bathing places include, but are not limited to, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and artificial impoundments.

(5)  "Portable pool" means a pool or spa, and related equipment systems of any kind, which is designed or intended to be movable from location to location.

History.--ss. 1, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 676, ch. 97-103; s. 77, ch. 97-237; s. 45, ch. 98-151.

514.0115  Exemptions from supervision or regulation; variances.--

(1)  Private pools and water therapy facilities connected with facilities connected with hospitals, medical doctors' offices, and licensed physical therapy establishments shall be exempt from supervision under this chapter.

(2)(a)  Pools serving no more than 32 condominium or cooperative units which are not operated as a public lodging establishment shall be exempt from supervision under this chapter, except for water quality.

(b)  Pools serving condominium or cooperative associations of more than 32 units and whose recorded documents prohibit the rental or sublease of the units for periods of less than 60 days are exempt from supervision under this chapter, except that the condominium or cooperative owner or association must file applications with the department and obtain construction plans approval and receive an initial operating permit. The department shall inspect the swimming pools at such places annually, at the fee set forth in s. 514.033(3), or upon request by a unit owner, to determine compliance with department rules relating to water quality and lifesaving equipment. The department may not require compliance with rules relating to swimming pool lifeguard standards.

(3)  A private pool used for instructional purposes in swimming shall not be regulated as a public pool.

(4)  The department may grant variances from any rule adopted under this chapter pursuant to procedures adopted by department rule.

History.--ss. 1, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 2, ch. 87-117; s. 46, ch. 98-151.

514.021  Department authorization.--The department is authorized to adopt and enforce rules to protect the health, safety, or welfare of persons using public swimming pools and bathing places. The department shall review and revise such rules as necessary, but not less than biannually. Sanitation and safety standards shall include, but not be limited to, matters relating to structure; appurtenances; operation; source of water supply; bacteriological, chemical, and physical quality of water in the pool or bathing area; method of water purification, treatment, and disinfection; lifesaving apparatus; measures to ensure safety of bathers; and measures to ensure the personal cleanliness of bathers.

History.--ss. 2, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 65, ch. 87-225; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

514.025  Assignment of authority to county health departments.--

(1)  The department shall assign to county health departments that are staffed with qualified engineering personnel the functions of reviewing applications and plans for the construction, development, or modification of public swimming pools or bathing places; of conducting inspections for and issuance of initial operating permits; and of issuing all permits. If the county health department is not assigned the functions of application and plan review and the issuance of initial operating permits, the department shall be responsible for such functions. The department shall make the determination concerning the qualifications of county health department personnel to perform these functions and may make and enforce such rules pertaining thereto as it shall deem proper.

(2)  After the initial operating permit is issued, the county health departments shall assume full responsibility for routine surveillance of all public swimming pools and bathing places, including responsibility for a minimum of two routine inspections annually, complaint investigations, enforcement procedures, reissuance of operating permits, and renewal of operating permits.

History.--s. 7, ch. 78-356; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 3, 13, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 66, ch. 87-225; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 151, ch. 97-101.

Note.--Former s. 514.032.

514.028  Advisory review board.--

(1)  The Governor shall appoint an advisory review board which shall meet as necessary or at least quarterly, to recommend agency action on variance request, rule and policy development, and other technical review problems. The board shall be comprised of the following:

(a)  A representative from the office of licensure and certification of the department.

(b)  A representative from the county health departments.

(c)  Three representatives from the swimming pool construction industry.

(d)  Two representatives from the public lodging industry.

(2)  The purpose of the advisory review board is to promote better relations, understanding, and cooperation between such industries and the department; to review and make recommendations regarding department product approval standards; to suggest means of better protecting the health, welfare, or safety of persons using the services offered by such industries; and to give the department the benefit of the knowledge and experience of the board concerning the industries and individual businesses affected by the laws and rules administered by the department.

(3)  Members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with service on the advisory review board pursuant to s. 112.061.

History.--ss. 8, 14, 15, ch. 85-173; ss. 4, 5, ch. 91-429; s. 152, ch. 97-101; s. 78, ch. 97-237.

514.03  Construction plans approval necessary to construct, develop, or modify public swimming pools or bathing places.--It is unlawful for any person or public body to construct, develop, or modify any public swimming pool or bathing place without a valid construction plans approval from the department.

(1)  Any person or public body desiring to construct, develop, or modify any public swimming pool or bathing place shall file an application for a construction plans approval with the department on application forms provided by the department and shall accompany such application with:

(a)  Engineering drawings, specifications, descriptions, and detailed maps of the structure, its appurtenances, and its intended operation.

(b)  A description of the source or sources of water supply and amount and quality of water available and intended to be used.

(c)  A description of the method and manner of water purification, treatment, disinfection, and heating.

(d)  Other applicable information deemed necessary by the department to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.

(2)  If the proposed construction of, development of, or modification of a public swimming pool or bathing place meets standards of public health and safety as defined in this chapter and rules adopted hereunder, the department shall grant the application for the construction plans approval within 30 days after receipt of a complete submittal. If engineering plans submitted are in substantial compliance with the standards aforementioned, the department may approve the plans with provisions for corrective action to be completed prior to issuance of the operating permit.

(3)  If the proposed construction, development, or modification of a public swimming pool or bathing place fails to meet standards of public health and safety as defined in this chapter and rules adopted hereunder, the department shall deny the application for construction plans approval pursuant to the provisions of chapter 120. Such denial shall be issued in writing within 30 days and shall list the circumstances for denial. Upon correction of such circumstances, an applicant previously denied permission to construct, develop, or modify a public swimming pool or bathing place may reapply for construction plans approval.

(4)  An approval of construction plans issued by the department under this section becomes void 1 year after the date the approval was issued if the construction is not commenced within 1 year after the date of issuance.

History.--s. 2, ch. 7825, 1919; CGL 3769; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 447, ch. 77-147; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 9, ch. 78-356; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 4, 13, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 47, ch. 98-151.

514.031  Permit necessary to operate public swimming pool or bathing place.--It is unlawful for any person or public body to operate or continue to operate any public swimming pool or bathing place without a valid permit from the department, such permit to be obtained in the following manner:

(1)  Any person or public body desiring to operate any public swimming pool or bathing place shall file an application for a permit with the department, on application forms provided by the department, and shall accompany such application with:

(a)  Descriptions of the structure, its appurtenances, and its operation.

(b)  Description of the source or sources of water supply, and the amount and quality of water available and intended to be used.

(c)  Method and manner of water purification, treatment, disinfection, and heating.

(d)  Safety equipment and standards to be used.

(e)  Measures to ensure personal cleanliness of bathers.

(f)  Any other pertinent information deemed necessary by the department to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.

(2)  If the department determines that the public swimming pool or bathing place is or may reasonably be expected to be operated in compliance with this chapter and the rules adopted hereunder, the department shall grant the application for permit.

(3)  If the department determines that the public swimming pool or bathing place does not meet the provisions outlined in this chapter or the rules adopted hereunder, the department shall deny the application for a permit pursuant to the provisions of chapter 120. Such denial shall be in writing and shall list the circumstances for the denial. Upon correction of such circumstances, an applicant previously denied permission to operate a public swimming pool or bathing place may reapply for a permit.

(4)  Operating permits shall not be transferable from one name or owner to another. When the ownership or name of an existing public swimming pool or bathing place is changed and such establishment is operating at the time of the change with a valid permit from the department, the new owner of the establishment shall apply to the department, upon forms provided by the department, for a reissuance of the existing permit.

(5)  Each such operating permit shall be renewed annually and the permit must be posted in a conspicuous place.

(6)  An owner or operator of a public swimming pool, including, but not limited to, a spa, wading, or special purpose pool, to which admittance is obtained by membership for a fee shall post in a prominent location within the facility the most recent pool inspection report issued by the department pertaining to the health and safety conditions of such facility. The report shall be legible and readily accessible to members or potential members. The department shall adopt rules to enforce this ¹subsection. A portable pool may not be used as a public pool.

History.--s. 7, ch. 78-356; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 5, 13, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 48, ch. 98-151.

¹Note.--The word "provision" following the word "subsection" was deleted by the editors.

514.033  Creation of fee schedules authorized.--

(1)  The department is authorized to establish a schedule of fees to be charged by the department or by any authorized county health department as detailed in s. 514.025 for the review of applications and plans to construct, develop, or modify a public swimming pool or bathing place, for the issuance of permits to operate such establishments, and for the review of variance applications for public swimming pools and bathing places. Fees assessed under this chapter shall be in an amount sufficient to meet the cost of carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

(2)  The fee schedule shall be: for original construction or development plan approval, not less than $275 and not more than $500; for modification of original construction, not less than $100 and not more than $150; for an initial operating permit, not less than $125 and not more than $250; and for review of variance applications, not less than $240 and not more than $400. The department shall assess the minimum fees provided in this subsection until a fee schedule is promulgated by rule of the department.

(3)  Any person or public body operating a public swimming pool or bathing place shall pay to the department an annual operating permit fee based on pool or bathing place aggregate gallonage, which shall be: up to and including 25,000 gallons, not less than $75 and not more than $125; and in excess of 25,000 gallons, not less than $160 and not more than $265, except for a pool inspected pursuant to s. 514.0115(2)(b) for which the annual fee shall be $50.

(4)  Fees collected by the department in accordance with this chapter shall be deposited into the Public Swimming Pool and Bathing Place Trust Fund for the payment of costs incurred in the administration of this chapter. Fees collected by county health departments performing functions pursuant to s. 514.025 shall be deposited into the County Health Department Trust Fund. Any fee collected under this chapter is nonrefundable.

(5)  The department may not charge any fees for services provided under this chapter other than those fees authorized in this section. However, the department shall prorate the initial annual fee for an operating permit on a half-year basis.

History.--s. 7, ch. 78-356; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 9, ch. 83-230; ss. 6, 13, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 1, ch. 87-117; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 9, ch. 96-407; s. 225, ch. 97-101; s. 49, ch. 98-151.

514.04  Right of entry.--For the purpose of this chapter, department personnel at any reasonable time may enter upon any and all parts of the premises of such public swimming pools and bathing places to make an examination and investigation to determine the sanitary and safety conditions of such places.

History.--s. 3, ch. 7825, 1919; CGL 3770; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 448, ch. 77-147; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 3, 9, ch. 78-356; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 7, 13, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

514.05  Denial, suspension, or revocation of permit; administrative fines.--

(1)  The department may deny an application for a permit, suspend or revoke a permit issued to any person or public body, or impose an administrative fine upon the failure of such person or public body to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted hereunder.

(2)  The department may impose an administrative fine, which shall not exceed $500 for each violation, for the violation of this chapter or the rules adopted hereunder and for the violation of any of the provisions of chapter 386. Notice of intent to impose such fine shall be given by the department to the alleged violator. Each day that a violation continues may constitute a separate violation.

(3)  In determining the amount of fine to be imposed, if any, for a violation, the following factors shall be considered:

(a)  The gravity of the violation and the extent to which the provisions of the applicable statutes or rules were violated.

(b)  Actions taken by the operator to correct violations.

(c)  Any previous violations.

(4)  All amounts collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Public Swimming Pool and Bathing Place Trust Fund or into the County Health Department Trust Fund, whichever is applicable.

(5)  Under conditions specified by rule, the department may close a public pool that is not in compliance with this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter.

History.--s. 4, ch. 7825, 1919; CGL 3771; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 449, ch. 77-147; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 4, 9, ch. 78-356; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 9, 13, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 153, ch. 97-101; s. 50, ch. 98-151.

514.06  Injunction to restrain violations.--Any public swimming pool or bathing place constructed, developed, operated, or maintained contrary to the provisions of this chapter is declared to be a public nuisance, dangerous to health or safety. Such nuisances may be abated or enjoined in an action brought by the county health department or the department.

History.--s. 5, ch. 7825, 1919; CGL 3772; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 139, ch. 71-355; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 450, ch. 77-147; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 5, 9, ch. 78-356; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 10, 13, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 154, ch. 97-101.

514.071  Certification of swimming instructors and lifeguards required.--

(1)  Any person working as a swimming instructor or lifeguard at a public swimming pool must be certified by the American Red Cross, the Y.M.C.A., or other nationally recognized aquatic training programs. Swimming instructors must be currently certified in swimming instruction, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Lifeguards must be currently certified in lifeguarding, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

(2)  In addition to any other remedies available to the department, the department may sue to enjoin the operation of any public swimming pool that uses any swimming instructor or lifeguard in violation of subsection (1).

(3)  The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section which shall include, but not be limited to, defining the terms "swimming instructor," "lifeguard," and "nationally recognized aquatic training program."

History.--ss. 1, 3, ch. 90-47; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

514.075  Public pool service technician; certification.--The department may require that a public pool, as defined in s. 514.011, be serviced by a person certified as a pool service technician. To be certified, an individual must demonstrate knowledge of public pools which includes, but is not limited to: pool cleaning; general pool maintenance; source of the water supply; bacteriological, chemical, and physical quality of water; and water purification, testing, treatment, and disinfection procedures. The department may, by rule, establish the requirement for the certification course and course approval. The department shall deem certified any individual who is certified by a course of national recognition or any person licensed under s. 489.105(3)(j), (k), or (l). This requirement does not apply to a person, or the direct employee of a person, permitted as a public pool operator under s. 514.031.

History.--s. 19, ch. 96-298; s. 73, ch. 96-388.

514.081  Saving clause.--Any person or public body holding a valid permit granted by the department on or before June 30, 1978, to construct, add to, modify, or operate any public swimming pool or bathing place may continue under provisions of said permit so long as it remains valid and unrevoked. Henceforth, said permit shall be renewed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

History.--s. 8, ch. 78-356; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 11, 13, 14, ch. 85-173; s. 4, ch. 91-429.