The Safe Waterways Act proposes a significant shift in the management of bacteriological sampling for beach waters and public bathing places by transferring these responsibilities from the Department of Health to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). By July 1, 2025, the Department of Health must provide a report on its current practices, followed by recommendations for the transfer by December 31, 2025. The DEP will assume full responsibility for sampling and enforcement of related rules by July 1, 2026. The bill also introduces new requirements for health advisories, mandating immediate notifications upon contamination detection and establishing a public statewide interagency database for monitoring compliance and data publication.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws regarding health advisory signage, assigning the DEP the responsibility for posting and maintaining these signs in coordination with the Department of Health and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It also modifies the advisory committee overseeing beach water sampling, replacing the Department of Health with the DEP as the lead agency and ensuring equal representation from both departments. The committee will be chaired by a DEP representative, with appointments made by the Secretary of Environmental Protection and the State Surgeon General. These changes aim to enhance the safety and quality of Florida's beach waters and public bathing areas through improved oversight and interagency collaboration.

Statutes affected:
S 156 Filed: 514.021, 514.023, 514.0231