Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ALIXON COLLAZOS-GILL
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Donlon
SYNOPSIS
Requires development of educational fact sheet on water safety for public and nonpublic schools; requires school district provide information to parents and guardians on swim lessons.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning water safety information for parents and guardians and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall develop an educational fact sheet on water safety. The fact sheet shall include information on:
(1) how parents and guardians can reduce their childs risk of injury or drowning while in, on, and around bodies of water;
(2) the role of water safety education courses and swimming lessons play in preventing incidents of injury or drowning;
(3) the proper use of flotation devices; and
(4) the importance of monitoring water conditions and swimming in areas monitored by a lifeguard.
b. In developing the fact sheet, the commissioner shall consult with, and utilize resources produced by, water safety organizations including, but not limited to, the American Red Cross and the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance.
c. The commissioner shall make the educational fact sheet available to all school districts and nonpublic schools.
d. A school district shall annually distribute the fact sheet to parents and guardians in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. A nonpublic school is encouraged, but not required, to distribute the fact sheet to parents and guardians in a manner determined by the nonpublic school.
e. As used in this section, water safety means safety in, on, and around bodies of water to reduce the risk of injury or drowning.
2. A school district shall develop a list of local locations where swimming lessons and age-appropriate water safety courses providing instruction to promote safety in, on, and around bodies of water to reduce the risk of injury and drowning are offered, including lessons and courses that are offered for free or reduced prices. The list shall be made available on the Internet website of the district and shall be updated annually.
3. This act shall take effect on the 180th day next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop an educational fact sheet on water safety. The fact sheet is to include information on: (1) how parents and guardians can reduce their childs risk of injury or drowning while in, on, and around bodies of water; (2) the role water safety education courses and swimming lessons play in preventing incidents of injury or drowning; (3) the proper use of flotation devices; and (4) the importance of monitoring water conditions and swimming in areas monitored by a lifeguard. The fact sheet is to be developed in consultation with, and utilizing resources provided by, water safety organizations.
Pursuant to the provisions of the bill, a school district is required to annually distribute the fact sheet to parents and guardians in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. A nonpublic school is encouraged, but not required, to distribute the fact sheet to parents and guardians in a manner determined by the nonpublic school.
Additionally, the bill requires each school district to develop a list of local locations where swimming lessons and age-appropriate water safety courses providing instruction to promote safety in, on, and around bodies of water to reduce the risk of injury and drowning are offered, including courses and lessons that are offered for free or reduced prices. The list is to be made available on the districts website and is required to be updated annually.