HB 1431 - Playground Safety Act

• Requires all new playgrounds open to the public built or installed after July 1, 2015 to comply with ASTM International safety standards (F1292, F1487, F1918, F2049) and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines.

• Mandates certified playground safety inspectors conduct initial inspections of existing playgrounds by July 1, 2016, and requires all public playgrounds be inspected every 5 years using national safety standards.

• Requires counties and municipalities to post links to playground safety standards on their websites by December 1, 2014, and authorizes them to require building permits and charge fees for new playground construction or major modifications.

• Prohibits public agencies from using state funds for playground planning, development, or redevelopment unless the playground meets safety requirements; prohibits state funding for operation, maintenance, or supervision of non-compliant playgrounds after required compliance dates.

• Establishes July 1, 2020 as the deadline for all playgrounds built before July 1, 2015 to meet the specified safety standards; takes effect January 1, 2015.