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SB 428 — Drowning Prevention
by Senators Yarborough, Smith, Davis, Berman, Massullo, Sharief, Jones, and Bernard
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill revises the age under which children are eligible to participate in the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program. Under the bill, if the other program criteria are met, a child is eligible between the ages of one year old and seven years old, instead of four years old and younger as under preexisting law. The bill also amends the program’s purpose to include drowning prevention.
The bill also requires the Department of Health to develop educational materials on drowning prevention safety measures and safe bathing practices which must be distributed to parents or caregivers as part of postpartum or childbirth education provided by hospitals, birth centers, home birth providers, and childbirth educators. The bill specifies the minimum standards for the educational materials’ contents and adds the requirement to distribute the educational materials to the licensure acts for birth centers and hospitals.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.
Vote: Senate 36-0; House 108-0