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Update on Federal Pool & Spa Safety Act

H.R. 1721, the House version of the Pool & Spa Safety Act, was approved by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, September 27. The bill approved is identical to the one approved by the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection on July 31. Committee approval was quick and unanimous by voice vote. The bill is expected to be approved as is by the full House before the end of October.

The Senate version of the bill, S. 1771, is awaiting floor action by the full Senate. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is expected to propose a floor amendment adding certain additional anti-entrapment provisions applicable to public pools. APSP has worked closely with the senator and her staff on the proposed amendment, which is consistent with the provisions of the new APSP/ANSI-7 Standard on Suction Entrapment Avoidance. As with the House, Senate floor action is expected by the end of October.

Once passed by both houses, differences in the two bills will have to be resolved by the two bodies. The only difference of consequence relates to the safety requirements imposed if the wall of a dwelling constitutes part of the protective barrier around a pool. There are no such requirements in the Senate bill; the House bill imposes certain alarm and lock requirements on doors and windows of a dwelling wall that leads to a pool. At APSP’s instigation, these revised House provisions were substituted for earlier provisions that called for isolation fencing around all residential pools.

APSP will actively seek an appropriate resolution of this barrier issue as the two bills are reconciled prior to final passage.