NY State Senate Bill 2023-S2545A

Senate Bill S2545A

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Allows schools to provide water safety instruction to students in grades kindergarten through twelve

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to education
Feb 02, 2023	print number 2545a
Feb 02, 2023	amend and recommit to education
Jan 23, 2023	referred to education

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2023-S2545 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4846
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §805, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S7938
2021-2022: S2207

2023-S2545 - Summary

Allows schools to provide water safety instruction to students in grades kindergarten through twelve; allows for the commissioner of education to provide technical assistance to develop curricula for water safety instruction.

2023-S2545 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2545

SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing water safety
instruction in schools

 
PURPOSE:

To reduce the number of injuries and fatalities among children from
drowning by requiring instruction in water safety for students in grades
kindergarten through twelve in all public schools in New York State.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the education law be adding a new section 805 to Have
the opportunity to opt-in to a program to provide students in public
school receive instruction in water safety in grades kindergarten
through twelve. It states that age appropriate education concerning
safety measures shall be taught such as the proper use of floatation
devices, awareness of water conditions, and what to do if caught in a

rip current. It also addresses the issue of the importance of pool
barriers and fencing, formal swim lessons and aid such as cardio pulmo-
nary resuscitation for drowning victims.

Section 2. Directs the Commissioner of Education to provide technical
assistance in the development of curricula for such instruction that
shall be age appropriate and developed according to the needs and abili-
ties of the student at successive grade levels.

Subsection 2 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Drownings are the second leading cause of death for children under the
age of 14 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease
Control. For every death, 5 more children's lives are changed due to
brain and spinal cord injuries incurred due to water based accidents.
While New York students participate in fire drills and active shooter
drills, they do not receive instruction on the types of bodies of water
they can encounter in in and around water.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020:S7938 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

2021:S2207 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

2022:S2207 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
On the first day of July succeeding the date on which it has become a
law.

2023-S2545 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2545
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 23, 2023
                                ___________
 
 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 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 HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT-IN TO  A  PROGRAM  TO
 PROVIDE  STUDENTS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELVE WITH INSTRUCTION
 IN WATER SAFETY. SUCH PROGRAM 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 SUPER-
 VISION OF SWIM AREAS, SAFE BEHAVIORS IN AND AROUND THE WATER, THE IMPOR-
 TANCE  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.
 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  BEGIN-
 NING  OF  EACH  SCHOOL  YEAR IF THEY CHOOSE TO OPT-IN TO SUCH PROGRAM TO
 PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN WATER SAFETY.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ASSIST IN  THE
 DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULA FOR SUCH INSTRUCTION PROGRAM WHICH SHALL BE AGE
 APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS AND ABILITIES OF PUPILS
 AT SUCCESSIVE GRADE LEVELS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AWARENESS, SKILLS, INFOR-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04804-03-3

 S. 2545                             2
 
 MATION, 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.

co-Sponsors

2023-S2545A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4846
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §805, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S7938
2021-2022: S2207

2023-S2545A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S2545A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2545A

SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing water safety
instruction in schools

 
PURPOSE:

To reduce the number of injuries and fatalities among children from
drowning by requiring instruction in water safety for students in grades
kindergarten through twelve in all public schools in New York State.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the education law be adding a new section 805 to Have
the opportunity to opt-in to a program to provide students in public
school receive instruction in water safety in grades kindergarten
through twelve. It states that age appropriate education concerning
safety measures shall be taught such as the proper use of floatation
devices, awareness of water conditions, and what to do if caught in a

rip current. It also addresses the issue of the importance of pool
barriers and fencing, formal swim lessons and aid such as cardio pulmo-
nary resuscitation for drowning victims. As well as, public school
districts within the state shall make available and encourage water
safety instruction. Schools are required to send home to parents asyn-
chronous water safety materials each year.

Section 2. Directs the Commissioner of Education to provide technical
assistance in the development of curricula for such instruction that
shall be age appropriate and developed according to the needs and abili-
ties of the student at successive grade levels.  Subsection 2 is the
effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Drownings are the second leading cause of death for children under the
age of 14 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease
Control. For every death, 5 more children's lives are changed due to
brain and spinal cord injuries incurred due to water based accidents.
While New York students participate in fire drills and active shooter
drills, they do not receive instruction on the types of bodies of water
they can encounter in in and around water.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020:S7938 REFERRED TO EDUCATION 2021:S2207 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

2022:S2207 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
On the first day of July succeeding the date on which it has become a
law.

2023-S2545A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2545--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 23, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Education  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04804-04-3
 S. 2545--A                          2

 
   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
 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.

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Senate Bill S2545A

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Sponsored By

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.