Safe Waterways Act (SB 172 – Florida 2023)

• Changes the Department of Health's authority from permissive ("may") to mandatory ("shall") for adopting and enforcing rules to protect users of beach waters and public bathing places, including requiring bacteriological sampling and health advisories when water quality fails to meet state standards
• Requires owners of beach waters and public bathing places to notify the local county health department and resample water within 24 hours after a test indicates the water fails to meet department standards
• Mandates closure of beach waters and public bathing places that fail to meet department standards when deemed necessary to protect public health, with closures remaining in effect until water quality is restored and health advisories are removed
• Requires the Department of Health to adopt by rule a standardized health advisory sign warning of fecal bacteria contamination, to be posted at beach access points and conspicuous areas; municipalities and counties must maintain signs at waters they own, while the department maintains signs at state-owned waters
• Directs the Department of Health to establish a public statewide interagency database for reporting fecal indicator bacteria data, with results published within 5 business days after receipt and confirmation, developed in coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection