BILL NUMBER: S6467A
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the minimum age
for lifeguards
 
PURPOSE:
To allow 15 year olds to serve as lifeguards at summer camps when under
the supervision of certain staff.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill adds a new subdivision to the public health law
that requires the state sanitary code to be updated to allow for 15 year
olds to serve as lifeguards at children's overnight, summer day, and
travelling summer day camps when under the supervision of a camp aquat-
ics director.
Section 2 of the bill contains the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current regulations under the State Sanitary Code (10 NYCRR 6-1 and 2)
allow for lifeguards as young as 15 to be employed as lifeguards at
swimming pools and bathing beaches as long as they are under the direct
supervision of a supervisory lifeguard. However, regulations for summer
camps set the minimum age for lifeguards at 16 (10 NYCRR 72).
Changing the minimum age for lifeguards to allow camps, just like other
municipal and private swimming pools, to hire 15 year olds will help
alleviate the current lifeguard shortage in New York. These lifeguards
would still have to pass all of the same requirements and obtain the
same certifications as older lifeguards. The American Red Cross allows
for certification of 15 year old lifeguards. Additionally, this bill
places a limit on how many lifeguards under the age of 17 can be working
at one time and requires supervision by a camp aquatics director.
Pools at summer camp are heavily regulated, even more so than
municipal/private pools as camps must employ aquatic directors who
directly supervise lifeguards and ensure that mandated lifeguard/swimmer
ratios are strictly enforced. Summer camp pools are more regulated and
better staffed than municipal pools and provide an ideal place for a
first lifeguard job. In addition to the lifeguards, the camp counselors
are also supervising campers. Summer camps are controlled environments
where the skills of each camper are carefully assessed, including the
use of deep-water testing. Camps specialize in swim instruction and can
certify lifeguards using American Red Cross specifications.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect on the 90th day it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S6467: 225 public health law
S6467A: 225 public health law