0871: FLOOR ANALYSIS - SWIMMING POOL: STARTING PLATFORMS

SWIMMING POOL: STARTING PLATFORMS - S.B. 871 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 871 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor: Senator Leon Stille

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to provide that certain regulations for starting platforms at a swimming pool would not apply to colleges and universities that restricted use of the platforms to collegiate swim programs. When the college or university pool underwent major structural change, the pool owner would have to bring it into compliance with the regulations.

Under R 325.2135 of the Michigan Administrative Code, if starting platforms are provided at a swimming pool, the pool owner must ensure that the platforms comply with the water depth and platform height requirements in the rule. The bill provides that R 325.2135 would not apply to a public swimming pool owned or operated by a college or university in Michigan, if the following criteria were met:

-- The pool water depth below the starting platform was at least four feet, and the starting platform was removed, cordoned off, or otherwise made inaccessible except during competition and practice.

-- The college or university restricted the use of starting platforms to collegiate swimmers participating in a college or university collegiate or intercollegiate swim program sanctioned by a national collegiate athletic program or similar body.

-- The opposing swimmers and coaches were notified before any intercollegiate swim meet of the depth of water below the starting platforms.

-- Any injuries related to the use of starting platforms that required first aid were reported to the local health department and the Department of Environmental Quality.

MCL 33.12522 - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government but would allow colleges and universities that have starting platforms for swimming pools that are four feet deep, to avoid the costs of renovating or building new swimming pools, or to avoid elimination of competitive swimming programs. Rule 35 of the Public Health Code requires a water depth of at least five feet under a starting platform; the bill would allow an exemption to the rule for colleges and universities with pools that have a minimum depth of four feet.

There are two public universities with pools that are four feet deep: Grand Valley State University and Northern Michigan University. Grand Valley estimates that renovation costs would be $1.5 million and Northern estimates costs of $0.5 million, if they were to comply with the five-foot depth requirement of Rule 35. In addition to the two public universities, there are at least two private colleges, Albion and Calvin, that have pools with a depth of less than five feet, and there are approximately 14 public community colleges with swimming pools that may be subject to Rule 35.

Date Completed: 12-10-01 - Fiscal Analyst: E. JeffriesFloor\sb871 - Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.state.mi.us/sfa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.