Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act

Bill: 110-s-1771
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2007-07-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Accident prevention
Administrative procedure
Child safety
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Consumer education
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Employee training
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Independent regulatory commissions
Labor and Employment
Law
Product safety
Standards
State laws
Swimming pools

Summary:
action_date: 2007-07-11
text: 
 Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act - Requires each swimming pool or spa drain cover manufactured, distributed, or entered into commerce in the United States to conform to specified entrapment protection standards accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Considers the standards to be a consumer product safety rule issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
 
Establishes a program of grants to states to: (1) hire and train enforcement personnel; and (2) educate pool construction, installation, and service companies, pool owners and operators, and other members of the public. Conditions grants on a state imposing certain requirements by statute, including: (1) enclosure of residential pools and spas to prevent small children from gaining unsupervised access; and (2) drain entrapment prevention devices and systems on all pools and spas.
 
Requires the CPSC to establish and carry out a public education program on methods to prevent drowning and entrapment in pools and spas.

action_date: 2007-09-20
text: 
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act - (Sec. 4) Requires each swimming pool or spa drain cover manufactured, distributed, or entered into commerce in the United States to conform to specified entrapment protection standards accredited by the American National Standards Institute and published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Considers the standards to be a consumer product safety rule issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
 
Requires each public pool and spa (including pools or spas open to members of an organization, residents of a residential complex, patrons of a hotel or other public accommodation, members of the Armed Forces, federal employees, and associated dependents or guests) in the United States to be equipped with devices or systems conforming to such standard. Provides for enforcement under the Consumer Product Safety Act. 
 
(Sec. 5) Establishes a program of grants to states to: (1) hire and train enforcement personnel; and (2) educate pool construction, installation, and service companies, pool owners and operators, and other members of the public. Conditions grants on a state imposing certain requirements by statute, including: (1) enclosure of residential pools and spas to prevent small children from gaining unsupervised access; and (2) drain entrapment prevention devices and systems on all pools and spas. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 6) Specifies minimum state law requirements.
 
(Sec. 7) Requires the CPSC to establish and carry out a public education program on methods to prevent drowning and entrapment in pools and spas.
 
(Sec. 8) Requires a CPSC report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-20
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 381.
action_date: 2007-09-20
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with amendments. With written report No. 110-182.
action_date: 2007-09-20
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with amendments. With written report No. 110-182.
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2007-07-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9025-9026)
action_date: 2007-07-11
text: Introduced in Senate