HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 719 Swim-up Bars
SPONSOR(S): Regulatory Reform Subcommittee, Smith, D.
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1044
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Regulatory Reform Subcommittee 16 Y, 0 N, As CS Brackett Anstead
2) State Administration & Technology 13 Y, 0 N Helpling Topp
Appropriations Subcommittee
3) Commerce Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Public swimming pools include those pools located at public lodging establishments and theme parks. The
Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for the oversight and regulation of water quality and safety of public
swimming pools in Florida. In order to operate or continue to operate a public swimming pool, it must have a
valid operating permit from DOH. Currently, DOH prohibits food, beverages, and glass containers from being in
a public swimming pool.
The Florida Building Commission (Commission), within the Department of Business and Professional
Regulation, implements and adopts the Florida Building Code. The Florida Building Code is the statewide
building code for all construction, including swimming pools in the state. Every local government must enforce
the Florida Building Code and issue building permits. A local government may not issue a certificate of
completion for a public swimming pool until DOH has issued an operating permit for the pool.
A swim-up bar is a version of a traditional bar that is located in a swimming pool. Swim-up bars do not require
a person to leave a pool in order to get a beverage. Typically, swim-up bars have submerged barstools in the
swimming pool and relatively shallow waters so patrons can sit or stand in the pool while they consume
beverages.
Swim-up bars are allowed in private residences. However, swim-up bars are not allowed in public pools
because food and beverages are not allowed in public swimming pools.
The bill:
Prohibits DOH and local governments from prohibiting swim-up bars located in transient public lodging
establishment or theme parks or entertainment complexes.
Requires swim-up bars to be separated from other public pools that do not allow beverages or food.
Prohibits glass items from being in a swim-up bar or the immediate area around the pool.
Requires a lifeguard to be on duty when a swim-up bar is in use.
Limits the water depth in swim-up bars to less than five feet.
Requires swim-up bars to be in compliance with all relevant regulations for public pools.
Gives DOH rulemaking authority to ensure swim-up bars comply with the regulations for swim-up bars.
Requires the Commission to adopt provisions for swim-up bars in the Florida Building Code, related to
water recirculation systems, pool deck obstructions, and pool signs.
The bill may have an insignificant negative fiscal impact on state government. See Fiscal Analysis & Economic
Impact Statement.
The bill takes effect upon becoming law.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
Public Swimming Pools
A public swimming 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.1
A public swimming pool includes “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.”2
The Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for the oversight and regulation of water quality and
safety of public swimming pools in Florida. In order to operate or continue operating a public swimming
pool, an owner must have a valid operating permit from DOH.3 Swimming pools in private residences
that have less than five living units are not public swimming pools and are not subject to regulation by
DOH.4
If DOH determines that the public swimming pool is, or may reasonably be expected to be, operated in
compliance with state laws and rules, DOH will issue a permit. However, if it is determined that the pool
is not in compliance with state laws and rules, the application for a permit will be denied.5 DOH is
authorized to establish a schedule of fees for plan approval and permitting. 6 Operating permits must be
renewed annually and may be transferred from one name or owner to another. 7
DOH may grant variances from any rule relating to the sanitation and safety standards for public
swimming pools. DOH may also grant variances from the provisions of the Florida Building Code
specifically pertaining to public swimming pools when requested by the pool owner or the pool owner’s
representative to relieve hardship. In order to receive a variance from the provisions of the Florida
Building Code, it must be shown that the hardship was not caused intentionally by the action of the
applicant, no reasonable alternative exists, and the health and safety of the pool patrons is not at risk. 8
DOH may suspend or revoke an operating permit, or impose an administrative fine of up to $500 on
any person or public body that fails to comply with the rules and regulations for public swimming pools.
Each day that a violation continues may constitute as a separate violation.9
DOH may also impose an administrative fine for any violations of the laws relating to the removal of
sanitary nuisances such as garbage or human waste. 10
1 S. 514.011(2), F.S.
2 Id.
3 S. 514.031(1), F.S.
4 S. 514.011(3), F.S.
5 Id.
6 S. 514.033, F.S.
7 Ss. 514.031(2) - (4), F.S.
8 S. 514.0115(9), F.S.
9 S. 514.05, F.S.
10 Id.
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Safety and Sanitation Features
All public pools must be equipped with the following safety features: 11
Safety drain outlet cover(s)/grate(s) and allowable secondary anti-entrapment devices;12
A shepherd’s hook securely attached to a one piece pole not less than 16 feet in length. Pools
over 50 feet in length shall have a shepherd’s hook on each of the longer sides of the pool;
At least one 18 inch diameter lifesaving ring with sufficient rope attached to reach all parts of the
pool from the pool deck. Pools over 50 feet in length shall have a lifesaving ring on each of the
longer sides of the pool;
Safety equipment shall be mounted in a conspicuous place and be readily available for use; and
Lighting if the pool is used during nighttime.
Spa pools under 200 square feet of surface area, and interactive water features or wading pools with
two feet or less of water depth are exempt from the requirement to have shepherd’s hook and lifesaving
ring requirement.13
If a human fecal accident occurs in a public swimming pool, the pool operator or owner must comply
with all recommendations found in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Fecal
accident response recommendations for Aquatics Staff.”14 A pool operator or owner may also use an
alternative emergency disinfection method developed by industry, by the application of new disinfection
technology, or by the use of chemical disinfectants that are effective, safe and appropriate for public
bathing facilities, and are approved by the CDC.15
The CDC recommends that if a person vomits more than just pool water, such as previously eaten
food, aquatic staff should respond immediately to clean it up and may use the “Fecal accident response
recommendations for Aquatics Staff” to disinfect potentially infectious vomit.16
Common Recreational Water Illnesses
According to the CDC, recreational water illnesses are diseases that people can get from swimming
and playing in bodies of water, including swimming pools, hot tubs/spas, water playgrounds, or oceans,
lakes, and rivers, if the water is contaminated with germs.17
A person can get recreational water illnesses if they swallow, have contact with, or breathe in mists or
aerosols from water contaminated with germs. A person can also get them by having contact with
chemicals that are in the water or that evaporate from the water and turn into gas in the air. 18
Diarrhea is the most common recreational water illness. People who are already sick with diarrhea can
spread it to others when they get in recreational water. People typically have about 0.14 grams of poop
(similar to a few grains of sand) on their bodies at any given time. When a person who is sick with
diarrhea gets in the water, that tiny amount of poop on their body can wash into the water around them
11 R. 64E-9.008(3) and (7), F.A.C.
12 Federal law requires public pools and spas to have a drain cover and a secondary anti -entrapment device in order to
avoid suction entrapment. 15 U.S.C. § 106.
13 R. 64E-9.008(2), F.A.C.
14 Dated February 15, 2008.
15 R. 64E-9.004(11), F.A.C.
16 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vomit and Blood in the Pool,
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/aquatics-professionals/ vomit-blood-c ontamination.html (last visited Jan. 28,
2022).
17 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Recreational Water Illnesses,
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/swimmers/rwi. html (last visited Jan. 29, 2022).
18 Id.
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and contaminate it with germs. If someone else swallows the contaminated water, they can become
infected.19
Other recreational water illnesses—such as skin, ear, respiratory, eye, and other infections—can be
caused by germs that naturally live in the water and soil. If the chemicals used to kill germs (chlorine or
bromine) in pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds are not kept at the right level, these germs can
multiply and make swimmers sick.20
The most common symptoms caused by recreational water illnesses are diarrhea, skin rashes, ear
pain, cough or congestion, and eye pain. From 2000 to 2014, almost 500 recreational water illness
outbreaks were reported to the CDC. The most commonly reported illnesses were:21
Acute gastrointestinal illness (such as diarrhea or vomiting).
Skin illnesses (such as rash).
Acute respiratory illness (such as cough or congestion).
Children, pregnant women, and people who have health problems or take medicines that lower their
body’s ability to fight germs and sickness—such as people whose immune systems are weakened
because of cancer, an organ transplant, or HIV—are most at risk for recreational water illnesses.22
Disinfecting pools with chlorine or bromine and pH is the first defense against the germs that cause
recreational water illnesses in pools, hot tubs/spas, and water playgrounds. At the recommended
levels, chlorine or bromine can kill most germs in the water within minutes. 23
However, one CDC study found that more than 10% of routine inspections of public pools, hot
tubs/spas, and water playgrounds (for example, at hotels/motels and waterparks) led to immediate
closure because of serious violations, such as improper chlorine or bromine levels. 24
Lifeguards
A “lifeguard” is a person responsible for the safety of the users of a public swimming pool. Lifeguards
are not required at a public pool unless the pool has a water slide plunge pool or the pool is a water
activity pool with climbable structures.25
However, anyone working as a lifeguard at a public swimming pool must be certified in lifeguarding, first
aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the American Red Cross, the Y.M.C.A., or other nationally
recognized aquatic training programs.26
Food and Beverages
Food, beverages, glass containers, and animals are prohibited from being in a public swimming pool.
Individuals with a disability and service animal trainers may be accompanied by a service animal, but
the service animal is not allowed to enter the pool water or onto the drained area of an interactive water
feature in order to prevent a direct threat to the health of pool patrons. 27
19 Id.
20 Id.
21 Id.
22 Id.
23 Id.
24 Id.
25 S. 514.071, F.S.; R. 64E-9.008, F.A.C.
26 Id.
27 R. 64E-9.004(4), F.A.C.
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The Florida Building Code and Florida Building Commission
In 1974, Florida adopted legislation requiring all local governments to adopt and enforce a minimum
building code that would ensure that Florida’s minimum standards were met. Local governments could
choose from four separate model codes. The state’s role was limited to adopting all or relevant parts of
new editions of the four model codes. Local governments could amend and enforce their local codes,
as they desired.28
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew demonstrated that Florida’s system of local codes did not work. Hurricane
Andrew easily destroyed those structures that were allegedly built according to the strongest code. The
Governor eventually appointed a study commission to review the system of local codes and make
recommendations for modernizing the system. The 1998 Legislature adopted the study commission’s
recommendations for a single state building code and enhanced the oversight role of the state over
local code enforcement. The 2000 Legislature authorized implementation of the Florida Building Code
(Building Code), and that first edition replaced all local codes on March 1, 2002.29 The current edition of
the Building Code is the seventh edition, which is referred to as the 2020 Florida Building Code. 30
Part IV of ch. 553, F.S., is known as the “Florida Building Codes Act” (Act). The purpose and intent of
the Act is to provide a mechanism for the uniform adoption, updating, interpretation, and enforcement
of a single, unified state building code. The Building Code must be applied, administered, and enforced
uniformly and consistently from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. 31
The main purpose of the Building Code is to regulate new construction or proposed modifications to
existing structures in order to give the occupants the highest level of safety and the least amount of
defects.32
The Florida Building Commission
The Florida Building Commission (Commission) was statutorily created to implement the Building
Code. The Commission, which is housed within the Department of Business and Professional
Regulation (DBPR), is a 19-member technical body made up of design professionals, contractors, and
government experts in various disciplines covered by the Building Code. 33
The Commission reviews several International Codes published by the International Code Council, the
National Electric Code, and other nationally adopted model codes to determine if the Building Code
needs to be updated and adopts an updated Building Code every three years. 34
The Commission has 11 Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) ranging from the building structural
TAC to the swimming pool TAC.35 TACs are made up of commission members and other parties who
advise the commission on declaratory statements, proposed amendments, and any other areas of
interest of the commission.36
28 The Florida Building Commission Report to the 2006 Legislature, Florida Department of Community Affairs, p. 4,
http://www.floridabuilding.org/ fbc/publications/2006_Legislature_Rpt _rev2.pdf (last visited Jan. 28, 2022).
29 Id.; DBPR, Building Code Information System, https://floridabuilding.org/c/default.aspx# (last visited on Jan. 28, 2022).
30 Id.
31 See S. 553.72(1), F.S.
32 Florida Building Commission, Advanced Florida Building Code Principals,
http://www.floridabuilding.org/ Upload/ Courses_trp/421-2-MA TE RIA L-Adv%20FL% 20Bldg%20Code% 20-
%20Course%20PDF%20version%207.0.pdf (last visited Jan. 28, 2022).
33 Ss. 553.73 and 553.74, F.S.
34 Id.
35 Department of Business and Professional regulation, Florida Building Code Online,
https://www.floridabuilding.org/c/c_commission.aspx (last visited Jan. 28, 2022).
36 S. 553.73(3), F.S.; Rule 61G20-2.001, F.A.C.
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