F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 445 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to water safety; amending s. 1003.42,
3 F.S.; requiring comprehensive age-appropriate and
4 developmentally appropriate K-12 instruction on water
5 safety; specifying requirements for such instruction;
6 requiring students to be provided with literature on
7 water safety; providing an effective date.
8
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11 Section 1. Paragraph (o) of subsection (2) of section
12 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
13 1003.42 Required instruction.—
14 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
15 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
16 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
17 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
18 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
19 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
20 approved methods of instruction, the following:
21 (o) Comprehensive age-appropriate and developmentally
22 appropriate K-12 instruction on:
23 1. Health education that addresses concepts of community
24 health, consumer health, environmental health, and family life,
25 including:
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26 a. Injury prevention and safety.
27 b. Internet safety.
28 c. Nutrition.
29 d. Personal health.
30 e. Prevention and control of disease.
31 f. Substance use and abuse.
32 g. Prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and
33 human trafficking.
34 2. For students in grades 7 through 12, teen dating
35 violence and abuse. This component must include, but not be
36 limited to, the definition of dating violence and abuse, the
37 warning signs of dating violence and abusive behavior, the
38 characteristics of healthy relationships, measures to prevent
39 and stop dating violence and abuse, and community resources
40 available to victims of dating violence and abuse.
41 3. For students in grades 6 through 12, awareness of the
42 benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard and the
43 consequences of teenage pregnancy.
44 4. Life skills that build confidence, support mental and
45 emotional health, and enable students to overcome challenges,
46 including:
47 a. Self-awareness and self-management.
48 b. Responsible decisionmaking.
49 c. Resiliency.
50 d. Relationship skills and conflict resolution.
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51 e. Understanding and respecting other viewpoints and
52 backgrounds.
53 f. For grades 9 through 12, developing leadership skills,
54 interpersonal skills, organization skills, and research skills;
55 creating a résumé, including a digital résumé; exploring career
56 pathways; using state career planning resources; developing and
57 practicing the skills necessary for employment interviews;
58 workplace ethics and workplace law; managing stress and
59 expectations; and self-motivation.
60 5.a. For students in grades 6 through 12, the social,
61 emotional, and physical effects of social media. This component
62 must include, but need not be limited to, the negative effects
63 of social media on mental health, including addiction; the
64 distribution of misinformation on social media; how social media
65 manipulates behavior; the permanency of sharing materials
66 online; how to maintain personal security and identify
67 cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human trafficking on the
68 Internet; and how to report suspicious behavior encountered on
69 the Internet.
70 b. The Department of Education shall make available online
71 the instructional material being used pursuant to this
72 subparagraph, and each district school board shall notify
73 parents of its availability.
74 6.a. Water safety, including, but not limited to:
75 (I) The importance of formal swimming lessons.
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76 (II) The proper use of flotation devices.
77 (III) Awareness of water conditions.
78 (IV) How to respond if caught in a rip current.
79 (V) The proper supervision of swimming areas.
80 (VI) Safe behaviors in and around the water, including the
81 importance of avoiding alcohol and substance use during water
82 recreation.
83 (VII) The importance of pool barriers and fencing, using a
84 life ring or a long object instead of attempting to personally
85 save a potential drowning victim, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
86 for drowning victims, and the order of administering such aid.
87 (VIII) For grades 6 through 12, how to physically throw a
88 rescue buoy, such as a life ring or similar device, during an
89 emergency situation.
90 b. Each school year, students must be provided with
91 literature on water safety to take home and share with their
92 parents or guardians. The literature must be available in
93 English, Spanish, and Creole.
94
95 Health education and life skills instruction and materials may
96 not contradict the principles enumerated in subsection (3).
97
98 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
99 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
100 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
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101 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
102 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
103 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
104 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
105 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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Statutes affected: H 445 Filed: 1003.42