Assembly Bill A3515C

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires school districts to provide information regarding water safety to parents or students upon enrollment

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status Via S1349 - Passed Assembly

  • 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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Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2025-A3515 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S1349
Law Section:
Education Law
Laws Affected:
Add §926, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:
A10251, S9311

2025-A3515 - Summary

Requires school districts to provide information regarding water safety to parents or students upon enrollment.

2025-A3515 - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3515
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 28, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  requiring  school
   districts  to  provide information regarding water safety and swimming
   certification to certain parents or students upon enrollment

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  3205 of the education law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
   4. A. BEGINNING WITH THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX--TWO  THOUSAND  TWEN-
 TY-SEVEN SCHOOL YEAR, EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PROVIDE, TO A PARENT OR
 GUARDIAN WHO INITIALLY ENROLLS THEIR CHILD IN THE SCHOOL, INFORMATION ON
 THE  IMPORTANT  ROLE WATER SAFETY EDUCATION COURSES AND SWIMMING LESSONS
 PLAY IN SAVING LIVES. THE INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY OR
 IN HARD COPY AND MUST INCLUDE LOCAL OPTIONS  FOR  AGE-APPROPRIATE  WATER
 SAFETY  COURSES  AND SWIMMING LESSONS THAT RESULT IN A CERTIFICATE INDI-
 CATING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION, INCLUDING COURSES AND LESSONS OFFERED  FOR
 FREE  OR  AT A REDUCED PRICE. IF THE STUDENT IS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR
 OLDER, OR IS UNDER THE AGE OF  TWENTY-ONE  AND  IS  ENROLLING  IN  ADULT
 EDUCATION CLASSES, THE INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE STUDENT.
   B. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "WATER SAFETY" SHALL
 MEAN  AGE-APPROPRIATE  EDUCATION  INTENDED TO PROMOTE SAFETY IN, ON, AND
 AROUND BODIES OF WATER AND REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY, INCLUDING FATAL OR
 NON-FATAL DROWNING.
   § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04032-01-5

co-Sponsors

2025-A3515A - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S1349
Law Section:
Education Law
Laws Affected:
Add §926, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:
A10251, S9311

2025-A3515A - Summary

Requires school districts to provide information regarding water safety to parents or students upon enrollment.

2025-A3515A - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  3515--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 28, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN, REYES, PHEFFER AMATO -- read
   once  and  referred  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 requiring school
   districts to provide information regarding water safety  and  swimming
   certification to certain parents or students upon enrollment
 
   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 926 to
 read as follows:
   § 926. WATER SAFETY AND SWIMMING CERTIFICATION. 1. BEGINNING WITH  THE
 TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-SIX--TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-SEVEN SCHOOL YEAR, EACH
 SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PROVIDE, TO A PARENT  OR  GUARDIAN  WHO  INITIALLY
 ENROLLS  THEIR  CHILD  IN  THE SCHOOL, INFORMATION ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE
 WATER SAFETY EDUCATION COURSES  AND  SWIMMING  LESSONS  PLAY  IN  SAVING
 LIVES.  THE  INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY OR IN HARD COPY
 AND MUST INCLUDE LOCAL OPTIONS FOR AGE-APPROPRIATE WATER SAFETY  COURSES
 AND  SWIMMING LESSONS THAT RESULT IN A CERTIFICATE INDICATING SUCCESSFUL
 COMPLETION, INCLUDING COURSES AND LESSONS  OFFERED  FOR  FREE  OR  AT  A
 REDUCED  PRICE.  IF THE STUDENT IS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, OR IS
 UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE AND IS ENROLLING IN ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES,
 THE INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE STUDENT.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "WATER SAFETY" SHALL
 MEAN AGE-APPROPRIATE EDUCATION INTENDED TO PROMOTE SAFETY  IN,  ON,  AND
 AROUND BODIES OF WATER AND REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY, INCLUDING FATAL OR
 NON-FATAL DROWNING.
   § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
 

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04032-03-5

co-Sponsors

2025-A3515B - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S1349
Law Section:
Education Law
Laws Affected:
Add §926, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:
A10251, S9311

2025-A3515B - Summary

Requires school districts to provide information regarding water safety to parents or students upon enrollment.

2025-A3515B - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  3515--B
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 28, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN, REYES, PHEFFER AMATO -- read
   once  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Education  --   committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to  said  committee  -- again reported from said committee with amend-
   ments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  requiring  school
   districts  to  provide information regarding water safety and swimming
   certification to certain parents or students upon enrollment;  and  to
   amend the public health law, in relation to promoting public awareness
   of the dangers of fatal and non-fatal drowning
 
   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 926 to
 read as follows:
   § 926. WATER SAFETY AND SWIMMING CERTIFICATION. 1. BEGINNING WITH  THE
 TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-SIX--TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-SEVEN SCHOOL YEAR, EACH
 SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PROVIDE, TO A PARENT  OR  GUARDIAN  WHO  INITIALLY
 ENROLLS  THEIR  CHILD  IN  THE SCHOOL, INFORMATION ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE
 WATER SAFETY EDUCATION COURSES  AND  SWIMMING  LESSONS  PLAY  IN  SAVING
 LIVES.  SUCH  INFORMATION,  WHICH SHALL BE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
 HEALTH ON ITS PUBLIC WEBSITE PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH  (T)  OF  SUBDIVISION
 ONE  OF  SECTION  TWO  HUNDRED  SEVEN  OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, MUST BE
 PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY OR IN HARD COPY AND MUST INCLUDE  LOCAL  OPTIONS
 FOR  AGE-APPROPRIATE  WATER  SAFETY  COURSES  AND  SWIMMING LESSONS THAT
 RESULT IN A  CERTIFICATE  INDICATING  SUCCESSFUL  COMPLETION,  INCLUDING
 COURSES  AND LESSONS OFFERED FOR FREE OR AT A REDUCED PRICE.  TO SATISFY
 THIS REQUIREMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY EITHER: (A) PROVIDE A LIST  OF
 OPTIONS DEEMED GEOGRAPHICALLY APPROPRIATE BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR (B)
 PROVIDE A WEBSITE ADDRESS TO AN ONLINE DATABASE OF OPTIONS SEARCHABLE BY
 ZIP CODE AS APPROVED FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PURSU-
 ANT  TO PARAGRAPH (T) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED SEVEN OF
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04032-06-5

co-Sponsors

2025-A3515C (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S1349
Law Section:
Education Law
Laws Affected:
Add §926, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:
A10251, S9311

2025-A3515C (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires school districts to provide information regarding water safety to parents or students upon enrollment.

2025-A3515C (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  3515--C
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 28, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN, REYES, PHEFFER AMATO -- read
   once  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Education  --   committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to  said  committee  -- again reported from said committee with amend-
   ments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  committee
   --  again  reported  from  said  committee  with  amendments,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  requiring  school
   districts to provide information regarding water safety information to
   certain parents or students upon enrollment
 
   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 926 to
 read as follows:
   § 926. WATER SAFETY INFORMATION.  1. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TWO THOU-
 SAND TWENTY-SIX--TWO THOUSAND  TWENTY-SEVEN  SCHOOL  YEAR,  EACH  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT  SHALL  PROVIDE,  TO  THE  PARENT  OR  GUARDIAN OF EACH STUDENT
 ENROLLED IN SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT, INFORMATION  ON  DROWNING  PREVENTION,
 WATER SAFETY, AND SAFE AND HEALTHY SWIMMING. EACH SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER
 SUCH  INFORMATION  SHALL  BE  PROVIDED  TO  THE  PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A
 STUDENT UPON ENROLLMENT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IF THE STUDENT IS  EIGH-
 TEEN  YEARS  OF  AGE OR OLDER, SUCH INFORMATION SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE
 STUDENT. SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE PROVIDED  ELECTRONICALLY  OR  IN  PAPER
 FORM.    TRANSLATION  OF  SUCH  INFORMATION  INTO ANY OF THE TWELVE MOST
 COMMON NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY LIMITED-ENGLISH PROFICIENT  INDI-
 VIDUALS  IN  THE    STATE, BASED ON THE DATA IN THE MOST RECENT AMERICAN
 COMMUNITY SURVEY PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, SHALL  BE
 PROVIDED UPON REQUEST BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN.
   2.  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  HEALTH  SHALL PRODUCE AND UPDATE, AS DEEMED
 NECESSARY, SUCH INFORMATION IN CONSULTATION WITH THE  COMMISSIONER.  THE
 COMMISSIONER  SHALL  PROVIDE  SUCH  INFORMATION TO EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
 EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PUBLISH SUCH INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE IN  A
 CLEARLY VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE LOCATION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.

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