An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 4035 By: Townley, Hefner, and
Cantrell of the House
and
Haste of the Senate
An Act relating to public health and safety;
regulating public pools and spas by the State
Department of Health; providing exceptions to
regulations; providing for promulgation of rules;
providing certain regulations in certain
circumstances; providing for public nuisance;
repealing 63 O.S. 2021, Sections 1-1013, 1-1013.1, 1-
1014, 1-1015, 1-1016, 1-1017, 1-1018, 1-1019, 1-1020,
1-1020.1, and 1-1021, which relate to public pools
and spas regulations and gui delines; providing for
codification; and providing an effective d ate.
SUBJECT: Public health and safety
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEO PLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-1022 of Title 63, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering , reads as follows:
A. The State Department of Health shall regulate public pools
and spas. The Department shall not r egulate:
1. Spray pads, spray grounds , or splash pads intended for use
by children in which the water is supplied by a system of sprays and
does not accumulate above ground;
2. Pools located at private residences;
ENR. H. B. NO. 4035 Page 2
3. Pools run by a homeowner's association where pools or spas
are limited to use by the homeowner group and their nonpaying
guests; and
4. Public or semipublic pools where th e main objective is the
external cleansing of the body.
B. The State Commissioner of Health shall promulgate rules for
the safety and sanitation of public po ols and spas, fees for
construction permit applications, fees for operation license
applications, fines for violations of safety and sanitation
requirements, and revocation standards for noncompliance.
Municipalities with a population of five thousand (5,0 00) or less,
according to the latest Federal Decennial Census, shall be charged
no more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for construction permit
applications and for ope ration license applications.
C. All public pool and spa owners shall apply for a
construction permit on a form designated by the State Department of
Health. Pool and spa des igns shall be based on the International
Swimming Pool and Spa Code , which may be promulgated into rule by
the State Department of Health. Construction permit applications
shall include plans prepared by a licensed professional engineer.
Pool and spa owners must possess a construction permit from the
State Department of Health prior to beginning construction.
D. Public pools and spas shall be licensed annually by the
Department. Public pool and spa owners shall apply for licensure on
a form designated by the Department.
E. Public pool and spa owners must allow an authorized
representative from the State Department of Health access for the
purposes of an inspection. Public pool and spa owners, manager s,
operators, and attendan ts shall be responsible for m aintaining
sanitary and safe conditions. All owners, managers, operators, and
attendants in charge of a public pool or spa shall be responsible
for ensuring safety and sanitation requirements are met when
operational. All pool and spa owners shall maintain records
demonstrating compliance and shall provide to the State Department
of Health upon request. The Department shall report any suspected
illegal activity on the premises of licensed public pools and spas
to the appropriate enforcement authority.
F. Every public pool and spa shall be secured for the purposes
of preventing public access during the months in which it is not ENR. H. B. NO. 4035 Page 3
operational. Public pools and spas that are out of compliance with
safety and sanitation requirements during three consecutive
inspections shall be considered a public nuisance. These pools
shall be considered permanently closed by the municipality in which
the public pool is located. Permanently closed pools and spas shall
be completely filled in , or fully drained and secured by
constructing or utilizing a barrier adequate for the prevention of
unauthorized persons. Municipalities may secure permanently closed
public pools and spas and charge the costs thereof against the taxes
of the owner. Permanently closed pools and spas fully drained and
secured by a barrier shall complete the initial licensure p rocess
prior to opening to the public. Permanently closed pools that have
been filled in shall be required to complete the construction permit
application process prior to the completion of the initial licensure
application process.
SECTION 2. REPEALER 63 O.S. 2021, Sections 1-1013, 1-
1013.1, 1-1014, 1-1015, 1-1016, 1-1017, 1-1018, 1-1019, 1-1020, 1-
1020.1, and 1-1021, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. ENR. H. B. NO. 4035 Page 4
Passed the House of Represe ntatives the 4th day of March, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 16th day of April, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ___ _________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________