Senate Bill S9826

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9826

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing water
safety swim instruction and free swim lessons in schools in a city with
a population of one million or more

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to address the increase in drowning
rates and implement a system where all students are educated on water
safety. This is targeted at communities where pools may be inaccessible,
swimming lessons are unaffordable, and travel expenses are too great for
families.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the education law, section 2 to create and define the
term, "water safety swim instructor."

              

Section 2: Amends the education law to add section 926-b for the depart-
ment of education to establish and administer an annual water safety
swim instructor certification exam.

Section 3: Amends the education law to add section 926-c to implement at
least one water safety swim instructor in every New York City public
school, as well as, mandating each school district to configure a plan
for their free water safety swim course for each academic year.

Section 4: Relates to the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Swimming is an essential life skill that promotes safety, health, and
confidence regardless of age, race, or gender. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 15-18% of adults
report that they do not know how to swim. Moreover, drowning remains the
leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages
1 to 4 in the United States. This legislation seeks to address these
disparities by establishing certified water safety swim instructors and
implementing a comprehensive swimming education program within the New
York City (NYC) public school system.

The NYC public school system serves over 900,000 students, approximately
66% of whom identify as African American, Hispanic, or Latino. Research
consistently demonstrates that these communities disproportionately face
higher drowning rates, often due to limited access to swim instruction,
and water safety education. In 2024, NYC beaches encountered 7 fatal
drowning incidents among teenagers, the highest since 2019. Studies
indicate that children as young as 4 years old achieve the most success-
ful outcomes in learning to swim. Beyond safety, swimming promotes the
development of motor skills, increased self-confidence, and enhanced
physical health.

Early exposure to swimming not only protects children and adolescents
but also cultivates a generation of adults equipped with lifesaving
skills. In doing so, this initiative advances both public health and
educational equity, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to
learn a skill that can ultimately save their lives and others.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Funding to support the costs for the water swim safety certification
exams and swim lessons for public school students shall be determined by
the department of education.