S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7734
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               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:
 
   Section 1. A temporary commission to be known as  the  "commission  to
 prevent  childhood drowning", hereafter referred to as the "commission",
 is hereby created to evaluate and develop programs to  properly  educate
 and instruct children on water safety and how to swim.
   §  2. (a) The commission shall consist of nine members to be appointed
 as follows:  three  members  appointed  by  the  governor;  two  members
 appointed  by  the  temporary  president  of  the  senate;  two  members
 appointed by the speaker of the assembly; one member  appointed  by  the
 minority  leader of the senate, and one member appointed by the minority
 leader of the assembly. Vacancies in the membership  of  the  commission
 shall  be  filled  in the same manner provided for original appointments
 and designations.
   (b) The members of the commission shall receive  no  compensation  for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
   (c)  The  commission may hold public hearings and is hereby authorized
 and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys  or  analyses
 it may deem relevant.
   (d)  The  commission shall be entitled to request and be provided with
 such resources and data of any  relevant  department,  division,  board,
 bureau,  commission  or  agency  of  the state to carry out properly its
 powers and duties pursuant to this act.
   (e) The members of the commission may participate in a meeting of such
 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
 
 that  all meetings shall operate in accordance with article seven of the
 public officers law.
   § 3. The commission shall:
   (a) Determine an appropriate age and/or stage of childhood development
 when  children can properly begin water safety and swimming instructions
 and develop statewide standards for such instruction;
   (b) Investigate and evaluate  the  feasibility  and  effectiveness  of
 programs  which  incentivize parents and guardians to enroll children in
 water safety and swimming instruction;
   (c) Develop  a  comprehensive  plan  for  public-private  partnerships
 between the state and community centers, nonprofit organizations, recre-
 ational  facilities, swimming instructors, and other relevant stakehold-
 ers and expanding existing state resources such as parks  and  pools  to
 provide access to free swimming instruction, and determine the feasibil-
 ity of such programs;
   (d)  Develop  an  implementation  plan  to  ensure its swimming safety
 programs are available in underserved communities; and
   (e) Develop a comprehensive plan for a public  awareness  campaign  to
 ensure  parents  and  guardians receive information on the importance of
 children receiving basic water safety and swimming instruction.
   § 4. The commission shall issue a report of its findings no later than
 one year after the effective date of this act.    The  commission  shall
 submit such report, including any recommendations for legislative action
 as it may deem necessary and appropriate, to the governor, the temporary
 president  of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and shall publish
 such report on the website  of  the  office  of  parks,  recreation  and
 historic preservation.
   § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall  have  become  a  law, and shall expire and be deemed repealed
 eighteen months after it shall have become a law.