Bill Text: NY S07938 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires water safety instruction in schools; provides that such age appropriate instruction shall include, but not be limited to, the proper use of flotation devices, awareness of water conditions, how to respond if caught in a rip current, the proper supervision of swim areas, safe behaviors in and around the water, the importance of pool barriers and fencing, the importance of formal swim lessons, the importance of avoiding alcohol and substance use with water recreation, the importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for drowning victims and the importance of the order of administering such aid.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-04 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S07938 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-S07938-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7938 IN SENATE March 4, 2020 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring water safety instruction in schools The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 805 to 2 read as follows: 3 § 805. Instruction in water safety. 1. All students in grades kinder- 4 garten through twelve in all public schools in the state shall receive 5 instruction in water safety. Such program shall be defined by the 6 commissioner in regulations after consultation with the department of 7 health and be designed to educate students about water safety in grades 8 kindergarten through twelve. Such age appropriate instruction shall 9 include, but not be limited to, the proper use of flotation devices, 10 awareness of water conditions, how to respond if caught in a rip 11 current, the proper supervision of swim areas, safe behaviors in and 12 around the water, the importance of pool barriers and fencing, the 13 importance of formal swim lessons, the importance of avoiding alcohol 14 and substance use with water recreation, the importance of cardiopulmo- 15 nary resuscitation for drowning victims and the importance of the order 16 of administering such aid. Nothing in this section shall prevent the 17 department from making model curriculum and resource materials available 18 on the department's website. 19 2. The commissioner may provide technical assistance to assist in the 20 development of curricula for such instruction which shall be age appro- 21 priate and developed according to the needs and abilities of pupils at 22 successive grade levels in order to provide awareness, skills, informa- 23 tion, self-confidence and support in the understanding of water safety 24 and the practice of water safety behaviors and skills. 25 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding 26 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the 27 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary 28 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized 29 to be made and completed on or before such effective date. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD15571-02-0