STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9465
IN SENATE
March 13, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- 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 including a component
on water safety in kindergarten through twelfth grade
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 804-e
2 to read as follows:
3 § 804-e. Instruction in water safety. 1. The regents shall ensure that
4 the course of instruction in grades kindergarten through twelve includes
5 a component on water safety. Such component shall instruct students on:
6 (a) identifying risks associated with drowning or other injuries in
7 connection to any body of water;
8 (b) the behaviors necessary for both children and adults to reduce
9 such risks; and
10 (c) how to respond in an emergency if a drowning or other such inju-
11 ries occur.
12 2. The regents shall determine how to incorporate such component in
13 existing curricula and the commissioner shall promulgate any regulations
14 needed to carry out such determination of the regents. The regents may
15 consider components including, but not limited to, an annual thirty-mi-
16 nute interactive assembly, a storyboard presentation, or in-classroom
17 activities.
18 § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2027.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15213-01-6
