This bill mandates the registration, inspection, testing, cleaning, and disinfection of cooling towers to mitigate the risk of Legionnaires Disease, a serious respiratory illness caused by Legionella bacteria. Building owners must register newly installed cooling towers with the Department of Health (DOH) before operation and register existing towers within 30 days of the bill's effective date. The registration process requires detailed information about the cooling tower and its owner. Additionally, owners are responsible for developing a maintenance program that adheres to manufacturer instructions and industry standards, ensuring that cooling towers are cleaned and disinfected after being shut down for more than five days, and conducting inspections and tests for contaminants at least quarterly.

Failure to comply with the bill's requirements can result in civil penalties ranging from $2,000 for first violations to $10,000 for violations leading to serious injury or death. The bill also stipulates that if microbial contamination is detected, owners must act quickly to clean and disinfect the cooling tower and notify the DOH. The department is authorized to establish fees for registration and certification, and the Commissioner of Health is required to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing compliance and the incidence of Legionnaires Disease. Overall, the bill aims to enhance public health safety by regulating cooling towers, which are linked to outbreaks of this potentially fatal disease.