Creates the temporary "commission to prevent childhood drowning" to evaluate and develop programs to properly educate and instruct children how to swim and water safety.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7734
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 20, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PHEFFER AMATO, HYNDMAN, CARROLL, JONES, NORRIS --
read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to create a temporary "commission to prevent childhood drowning"
to improve water safety in New York state; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A temporary commission to be known as the "commission to
2 prevent childhood drowning", hereafter referred to as the "commission",
3 is hereby created to evaluate and develop programs to properly educate
4 and instruct children on water safety and how to swim.
5 § 2. (a) The commission shall consist of nine members to be appointed
6 as follows: three members appointed by the governor; two members
7 appointed by the temporary president of the senate; two members
8 appointed by the speaker of the assembly; one member appointed by the
9 minority leader of the senate, and one member appointed by the minority
10 leader of the assembly. Vacancies in the membership of the commission
11 shall be filled in the same manner provided for original appointments
12 and designations.
13 (b) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
14 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
15 incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
16 (c) The commission may hold public hearings and is hereby authorized
17 and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses
18 it may deem relevant.
19 (d) The commission shall be entitled to request and be provided with
20 such resources and data of any relevant department, division, board,
21 bureau, commission or agency of the state to carry out properly its
22 powers and duties pursuant to this act.
23 (e) The members of the commission may participate in a meeting of such
24 commission or committee by means of a telephone conference, provided
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11563-01-1
A. 7734 2
1 that all meetings shall operate in accordance with article seven of the
2 public officers law.
3 § 3. The commission shall:
4 (a) Determine an appropriate age and/or stage of childhood development
5 when children can properly begin water safety and swimming instructions
6 and develop statewide standards for such instruction;
7 (b) Investigate and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of
8 programs which incentivize parents and guardians to enroll children in
9 water safety and swimming instruction;
10 (c) Develop a comprehensive plan for public-private partnerships
11 between the state and community centers, nonprofit organizations, recre-
12 ational facilities, swimming instructors, and other relevant stakehold-
13 ers and expanding existing state resources such as parks and pools to
14 provide access to free swimming instruction, and determine the feasibil-
15 ity of such programs;
16 (d) Develop an implementation plan to ensure its swimming safety
17 programs are available in underserved communities; and
18 (e) Develop a comprehensive plan for a public awareness campaign to
19 ensure parents and guardians receive information on the importance of
20 children receiving basic water safety and swimming instruction.
21 § 4. The commission shall issue a report of its findings no later than
22 one year after the effective date of this act. The commission shall
23 submit such report, including any recommendations for legislative action
24 as it may deem necessary and appropriate, to the governor, the temporary
25 president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and shall publish
26 such report on the website of the office of parks, recreation and
27 historic preservation.
28 § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
29 it shall have become a law, and shall expire and be deemed repealed
30 eighteen months after it shall have become a law.
