The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP) for jurisdictions that enforce pool and spa safety requirements such as the International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC). Successful applicants will be awarded one-year grants to implement enforcement and education programs to prevent the drowning and drain entrapment of children in pools and spas, as authorized under Section 1405 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB Act).
This opportunity is open to state and local governments that can demonstrate they have enacted or amended a state or local law that meets the requirements specified in Section 1406 of the VGB Act. Applicants have through Aug. 19 to request grants of up to $250,000 each. Once grant applications have been reviewed and scored, CPSC anticipates awarding a total of $1 million in funding.
During a recent webinar, the CPSC stated that the ISPSC "appears to satisfy" all requirements of the VGB Act. By adopting the ISPSC, section 305 (or as modified by the jurisdiction) requires barriers to entry on all outdoor residential pools that will effectively prevent small children from gaining unsupervised access to the pool or spa. The section also contains detailed requirements with regard to barrier heights and clearances, self-closing, self-latching features, openings, lack of climbability, use of a structure as part of a barrier and the role of lockable spa safety covers, powered pool safety covers, alarms, and other supplemental devices. These requirements address sections 1405 and 1406 of the VGB Act.
CPSC will host a technical assistance webinar on June 17 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern. This webinar will provide an overview to potential state and local government applicants about the PSGP (CPSC-16-001) eligibility, requirements and application process. You can register here. Registrants will receive an email with the webinar link and audio conferencing line information. Additional information and technical assistance may be found here. |
