S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7129
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               June 2, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 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

 S. 7129                             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.