H-2936.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2499
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By Representatives Hunt, Romero, Schual‑Berke, Morell, Anderson and Kenney
Read first time 01/18/2002. Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
AN ACT Relating to health studios; adding a new section to chapter 19.142 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 19.142 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The legislature finds that the use of commercial health studio facilities by the public includes a reliance on the part of the public of reasonable safe and sanitary conditions in these facilities to avoid contagion from infectious diseases. The health studio industry benefits by promoting accepted standards of sanitation to assure their members and guests of a respect for their health and safety. The legislature declares that it is in the interests of the public health, safety, and welfare to establish requirements and guidelines for the maintenance of minimum sanitary conditions and infection control in health studios in order to assist these facilities in providing a healthy environment for patrons with an interest in improving their health status.
(2) In consultation with recognized professional health studio trade associations and other recognized guidelines for infection control, the secretary of health shall adopt by rule requirements for sanitation and infection control for health studios whose services include a swimming pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna room, or shower facilities.
(3) Any person who owns or operates a health studio whose services include a swimming pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna room, or shower facilities shall comply with the rules adopted by the secretary of health for sanitation and infection control under this section. A violation of a rule adopted under this section is a misdemeanor.
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