Bill Text: NY A10256 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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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: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-04-08 - referred to education [A10256 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-A10256-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          10256

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                      April 8, 2020
                                       ___________

        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 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