Assignment of authority to county health departments.

(1) The department shall assign to county health departments that are staffed with qualified engineering personnel the functions of reviewing applications and plans for the construction, development, or modification of public swimming pools or bathing places; of conducting inspections; and of issuing all permits. If the county health department determines that qualified staff are not available, the department shall be responsible for such functions.

(2) County health departments are responsible for routine surveillance of water quality in all public swimming pools and bathing places, including routine inspections, complaint investigations, enforcement procedures, and operating permits.

(3) The department may assign the responsibilities and functions specified in this section to any multicounty independent special district created by the Legislature to perform multiple functions, to include municipal services and improvements, to the same extent and under the same conditions as provided in subsections (1) and (2), upon request of the special district.