STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9465--A
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 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
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. 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 1. identifying risks associated with drowning or other injuries in
7 connection to any body of water; 2. the behaviors necessary for both
8 children and adults to reduce such risks; and 3. how to respond in an
9 emergency if a drowning or other such injuries occur. The regents shall
10 determine how to incorporate such component in existing curricula and
11 the commissioner shall promulgate any regulations needed to carry out
12 such determination of the regents. The regents may consider components
13 including, but not limited to, an annual thirty-minute interactive
14 assembly, a storyboard presentation, or in-classroom activities.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
16 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
17 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
18 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
19 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.
LBD15213-02-6
