Recreational water use: wave basins.

Existing law provides for the regulation of recreational water use, as specified, including, but not limited to, swimming pools and wave pools. Existing law establishes applicable construction and sanitation standards for public swimming pools, and standards pertaining to their operation, maintenance, and use. This bill would similarly establish, under the supervision of the State Department of Public Health, standards for a wave basin, defined as an artificially constructed body of water within an impervious water containment structure incorporating the use of a mechanical device for generating waves with suitable characteristics for surfing. The bill would require a wave basin to be under the supervision of a wave basin operator, with specified responsibilities, and be subject to inspection by the enforcing agent, as defined. The bill would establish standards for the construction, use, operation, and maintenance of wave basins, including, but not limited to, standards for recordkeeping; water treatment, clarity, and characteristics; lifeguard service, first aid, and safety; and employee and wave basin user health. The bill would make a person who violates any of its provisions, or related building standards, rules, and regulations, guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or by both a fine and imprisonment. By creating a new crime, and by imposing new inspection duties on local public health enforcing agents, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.