Current law requires public swimming pools that charge a direct fee for their use to provide a minimum staffing level of lifeguards, who must have current certification from an American Red Cross or YMCA lifeguard training program. However, due to the pandemic, several public agencies have been faced with a shortage of qualified lifeguards, and some agencies have had to implement seasonal pool closures, reduced public pool opening hours, and similar solutions. AB 1672 is aimed at addressing this shortage by allowing public agencies to use trained open-water lifeguards to staff public swimming pools.
Specifically, AB 1672 would authorize a local public agency pool operator to use open water lifeguards to provide lifeguard services at a public swimming pool if (a) the agency is unable to maintain minimum staffing levels with only certified pool lifeguards, (b) if the agency is certified by the United States Lifesaving Association as capable of administering an open water lifeguard training program, (c) if the open water lifeguards have received swimming pool-specific crossover training, and (d) if the agency’s legislative body enacts a resolution finding that the use of open water lifeguards is needed to maintain regular operating hours at public swimming pools. The resolution may not cover a period longer than 12 months at a time.
(AB 1672 amend Sections 116028 and 116033 of the Health and Safety Code.)