By Marcelle Dibrell

California legislators are considering a new bill that could allow public entities to impose a tax on stabilized chlorine, such as trichlor and dichlor, purchased at retail stores.

Authored by Senator Ben Allen, a Democrat from Santa Monica, the bill would authorize local public entities to impose up to a 30-cent per tablet tax on trichlor tablets purchased at retail stores.

The bill is called SB 676, “Responsible Pool Disinfection and Water Conservation Act: local tax authorization.”

According to the bill’s text, the funds raised from the tax would be used for purposes of public education related to proper use of trichlor tablets in commercial and residential pool settings and local water conservation.

The California Pool and Spa Association wrote that discussions with the proponent of the legislation, HASA, indicate that the bill will be expanded to include dichlor and will apply to tablets, sticks, and granular products.

The bill’s sponsor is also looking at modifying the tax to apply on a perpound basis to take into account that the tax would be levied on tablets, sticks, and granular products.

Dustin Dubrall, co-owner of Tri City Pool Services in Simi Valley, California won big at this year’s Western Pool & Spa Show. He was about to leave when he learned he was a finalist. He won $20,000! See story on page 4. Moreover, the bill will not apply to chemicals purchased wholesale by swimming pool service companies. The legislation is only intended to apply to homeowners maintaining their own swimming pools or spas and purchasing such chemicals at bigbox stores or retailers like Leslie’s. CPSA is currently in discussions with the author’s office and the proponents to determine whether to take a position on the bill. The association has reached out to the pool service industry and manufacturers to gauge the level of interest and develop input.

If you are interested in SB 676, email John Norwood from the CPSA Government Relations team at jnorwood@nalobby.net.