BILL NUMBER: S4787
SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to reporting on swimming
education in a public school; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon the expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would establish a working group to prepare a report of what
resources are available for swimming instruction and safety in public
schools for the purpose to consider: making swim education a requirement
in public schools; various to improve swimming safety; and promote
health and fitness.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Swimming education. a) Within one year of the effective date
of this section, the commissioner shall allocate monies from existing
budgetary resources to inventory and report to the education committee
of the legislature on the extent of all existing resources and best
practices available for swimming instruction classes in public schools.
(b) The commissioner shall establish a working group on swimming educa-
tion which shall be composed of not more than fifteen individuals
representing interested stakeholders. (c) Eighteen months after the
effective date of this section, the working group on swimming education
shall submit a report.
Section 2: Effective day.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, swim education is not a state requirement in New York public
schools. In 2019, there were a series of drownings in Far Rockaway
Beach, Queens, including a 15 year old who was swimming by Beach 88th
Street the evening of Aug. 4. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second-leading cause of
unintentional death in children ages 1-14 in the United States.
Only about 24% of American children 6 to 17 years participate in the
recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day. In the 2018 U.S.
Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, the United
States received a D- in Overall Physical Activity. The report was
prepared by the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance (NPAPA).
According to the: CDC, swimming is America's fourth most popular sports
activity. Swimming is a good way to get regular aerobic physical activ-
ity and can decrease the risk of chronic illnesses. The risk of death
for swimmers is about half compared to inactive people. This bill would
establish a working group to prepare a report of what resources are
available for swimming instruction and safety in public schools to
promote health and fi.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22 REFERRED TO SENATE EDUCATION
2022 referred to education
2020 REFERRED TO SENATE EDUCATION
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed six months after the working group on swimming education
reports its findings and recommendations to the legislature pursuant to
subdivision (c) of section 817 of the education law as added by section
one of this act; provided that the commissioner of education shall noti-
fy the legislative bill drafting commission upon the submission of the
report required in subdivision (c) of section 817 of the education law
as added by section one of this act in order that the commission may
maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text
of the laws of the state. of New York in furtherance of effectuating the
provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the
public officers law.