The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4846
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 23, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. PHEFFER AMATO -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing water safety
   instruction in schools
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 805 to
 read as follows:
   §  805.  INSTRUCTION  IN  WATER SAFETY. 1. ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
 WITHIN THE  STATE  SHALL  MAKE  AVAILABLE  AND  ENCOURAGE  WATER  SAFETY
 INSTRUCTION  FOR  STUDENTS  IN  GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELVE. SUCH
 SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SEND HOME TO PARENTS  OF  STUDENTS
 ASYNCHRONOUS WATER SAFETY MATERIALS EACH YEAR. SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL BE
 DEFINED  BY  THE COMMISSIONER IN REGULATIONS AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE
 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND BE DESIGNED TO  EDUCATE  STUDENTS  ABOUT  WATER
 SAFETY  IN  GRADES  KINDERGARTEN  THROUGH  TWELVE.  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  LIFEGUARDED  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  IMPOR-
 TANCE  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.    NOTHING  IN  THIS
 SECTION  SHALL  PREVENT  THE DEPARTMENT FROM MAKING MODEL CURRICULUM AND
 RESOURCE MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.   EACH  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT  SHALL  NOTIFY  THE COMMISSIONER PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF EACH
 SCHOOL YEAR IF THEY CHOOSE TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN WATER SAFETY.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ASSIST IN  THE
 DEVELOPMENT  OF CURRICULA FOR SUCH INSTRUCTION WHICH SHALL BE AGE APPRO-
 PRIATE AND DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS AND ABILITIES OF  PUPILS  AT
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04804-05-3

 A. 4846                             2
 
 SUCCESSIVE  GRADE LEVELS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AWARENESS, SKILLS, INFORMA-
 TION, SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF  WATER  SAFETY
 AND THE PRACTICE OF WATER SAFETY BEHAVIORS AND SKILLS.
   §  2.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary
 for  the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.