Senate Bill S.9311 / Assembly Bill A.3515, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte, aims to promote water safety awareness among New York’s children. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, this legislation would require school districts to provide parents or guardians with information about water safety education courses and swimming lessons. The information would be offered electronically or in hard copy and include local options for age-appropriate water safety courses and swimming lessons. By increasing awareness and participation in these programs, the bill seeks to reduce water-related injuries and fatalities among children.
Cordell Cleare
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
In Senate Committee
In Assembly Committee
Check the latest status of Senate Bill S.3608
Check the latest status of Assembly Bill A.3515
Senate Bill S.5815 / Assembly Bill A.6205, written by the New York Water Safety Coalition, amends the public health law to educate the public on the dangers of drowning, highlighting unique risks for various age groups, disadvantaged communities, and individuals with mental disabilities through targeted public awareness campaigns. It emphasizes methods to reduce drowning risks, such as water safety instruction and awareness of risk factors.
John Mannion, Karines Reyes
Amy Paulin, Linda Rosenthal, Tim Kennedy, Lea Webb
Passed Senate
Passed Assembly
Signed Into Law
Senate Bill S.3608 / Assembly Bill A.4987, written by the New York Water Safety Coalition, would require hospitals to offer new parents a brief, state-approved video highlighting the dangers of drowning for infants and young children during the mother's maternity stay. This bill is modeled after the existing law that requires hospitals and birthing centers to offer new parents the opportunity to view a state-approved video on Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Lea Webb, Stacey Pheffer Amato
Joseph Adabo, Leroy Comrey, Cordell Cleare, Tim Kennedy, Andrew Hevesi, Amy Paulin, Linda Rosenthal, William Colton, Rebecca Seawright, MaryJane Shimsky, Jo Anne Simon
Passed Senate
Passed Assembly
Signed Into Law
Check the latest status of Senate Bill S.3608
Check the latest status of Assembly Bill A.4987
Championed by the NYWSC, this bill would extend the temporary "commission to prevent childhood drowning" by 18 months.
On Senate Floor
Referred To Assembly Governmental Operations Committee
Passed Senate.
Check the latest status of S.6764
Check the latest status of A.7609
Championed by the NYWSC, this bill created a temporary "commission to prevent childhood drowning" which began in 2023 and is still actively meeting. Founding NYWSC member Heidi Reiss sits as vice chair of the commision.
Signed into law.
Check the latest status of S.7129
Check the latest status of A.7734
Written by the NYWSC, this bill would creates a transportation subsidy to increase access to water safety instruction
Referred to Education Committee