Santa Monica Democrat Senator Ben Allen introduced SB676, a bill which aimed to allow a local tax to be imposed on certain chemicals used in swimming pools. The bill was postponed to 2024. The bill, if passed, would have given local public entities the power to levy a $0.30 tablet tax on trichlor tablets bought at retail stores. The tax revenue would have been used to educate the public about the proper use and conservation of water in residential and commercial pool settings.
Specifics about SB 676:
“This bill would allow a county to levy an ordinance at a rate not exceeding $0.30 per tablet on the sale of trichlor tablets within its jurisdiction. It was approved by a 1/ 2 vote. The bill would require any county that imposes such a tax, to enter into a contract with the department to administer it. It would also require that the ordinance to levy the tax be in effect for no less than five years unless extended by the electors. A retailer that is engaged in business in a county with an operative ordinance would be required to collect the tax at the point-of-sale from the consumer. The retailer would also have to pay the tax to the department. The bill would direct the department to allocate tax revenues as required and require the county’s to expend those revenue for public education on proper use of trichlor tablets in residential and commercial pool settings.
California Pool Industry Pushes Back on Controversial Bill
After a lively discussion, the Western Pool & Spa Show Board of Directors voted unanimously against the bill during the recent meeting. After discussions with HASA the bill’s sponsor, the CPSA Board of Directors unanimously voted against the bill.
Although the bill did not apply to wholesale sales, board members expressed concern that it could set a bad precedent and that the bill was too premature, since there had been no discussion about this with the industry.
Due to the approaching April deadlines for legislative policy committees, the decision was made that SB 676 would be made a two-year bill. It will not be moving forward in 2023, but will still be available for consideration in 2024. This delay allows for more industry discussion on the topic.
The post Trichlor Bill Postponed In California appeared originally on PoolMagazine.com. Get the Latest Pool News.
