S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6141
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 10, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. NORRIS -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to create a temporary "commission to prevent childhood drowning"
to improve water safety in New York state; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A temporary commission to be known as the "commission to
prevent childhood drowning", hereafter referred to as the "commission",
is hereby created to evaluate and develop programs to properly educate
and instruct children on water safety and how to swim.
§ 2. (a) The commission shall consist of eleven members to be
appointed as follows: three members appointed by the governor; two
members appointed by the temporary president of the senate; two members
appointed by the speaker of the assembly; one member appointed by the
minority leader of the senate, one member appointed by the minority
leader of the assembly; the chancellor of the board of regents of the
University of the State of New York or his or her designee; and the
commissioner of the department of parks, recreation and historic preser-
vation or his or her designee; and five ad hoc members, with one member
each of the statewide chapter of the following organizations: the Ameri-
can Red Cross, the YMCA, the YWCA, the Boys and Girls Club, the Jewish
Community Center and the New York State Swim Commission. Vacancies in
the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner
provided for original appointments and designations.
(b) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act. The
commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it deems
necessary for the performance of its functions and fix their compen-
sation within the amounts made available by appropriation therefor.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07661-01-1
A. 6141 2
(c) The commission may hold public hearings and shall have all the
powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law and is
hereby authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries,
surveys or analyses it may deem relevant through its own personnel or in
cooperation with or by agreement with any other public or private agen-
cy.
(d) To the maximum extent feasible, the commission shall be entitled
to request and be provided with such resources and data of any depart-
ment, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any
political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to carry out
properly its powers and duties pursuant to this act.
(e) The members of the commission or any committee thereof may partic-
ipate in a meeting of such commission or committee by means of a tele-
phone conference or any similar communications equipment allowing all
persons participating to hear each other at the same time; participation
by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
§ 3. The commission shall:
(a) Determine an appropriate age and/or stage of childhood development
when children can properly begin water safety and swimming instructions
and develop statewide standards for such instruction;
(b) Investigate and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of
programs which incentivize parents and guardians to enroll children in
water safety and swimming instruction;
(c) Develop a comprehensive plan and provide the estimated state cost
for public-private partnerships between the state and community centers,
nonprofit organizations, recreational facilities, swimming instructors,
and other relevant stakeholders and expanding existing state resources
such as parks and pools to provide access to free swimming instruction,
and determine the feasibility of such programs;
(d) Develop an implementation plan to ensure its swimming safety
programs are available in underserved communities; and
(e) Develop a comprehensive plan and provide the annual estimated
state cost for a public awareness campaign to ensure parents and guardi-
ans receive information on the importance of children receiving basic
water safety and swimming instruction.
§ 4. The commission shall make recommendations and a report of its
findings no later than one year after the effective date of this act.
The commission shall submit such recommendations and report, including
any recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and
appropriate, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the
speaker of the assembly, and shall publish its report online.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed eighteen months after it shall have become a law.