Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 428
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00056A-24                                           2024428__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to water safety; amending s. 1003.42,
    3         F.S.; requiring comprehensive age-appropriate and
    4         developmentally appropriate K-12 instruction on water
    5         safety; specifying requirements for such instruction;
    6         requiring students to be provided with literature on
    7         water safety; providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Paragraph (o) of subsection (2) of section
   12  1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   13         1003.42 Required instruction.—
   14         (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
   15  schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
   16  and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
   17  faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
   18  highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
   19  following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
   20  approved methods of instruction, the following:
   21         (o) Comprehensive age-appropriate and developmentally
   22  appropriate K-12 instruction on:
   23         1. Health education that addresses concepts of community
   24  health, consumer health, environmental health, and family life,
   25  including:
   26         a. Injury prevention and safety.
   27         b. Internet safety.
   28         c. Nutrition.
   29         d. Personal health.
   30         e. Prevention and control of disease.
   31         f. Substance use and abuse.
   32         g. Prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and
   33  human trafficking.
   34         2. For students in grades 7 through 12, teen dating
   35  violence and abuse. This component must include, but not be
   36  limited to, the definition of dating violence and abuse, the
   37  warning signs of dating violence and abusive behavior, the
   38  characteristics of healthy relationships, measures to prevent
   39  and stop dating violence and abuse, and community resources
   40  available to victims of dating violence and abuse.
   41         3. For students in grades 6 through 12, awareness of the
   42  benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard and the
   43  consequences of teenage pregnancy.
   44         4. Life skills that build confidence, support mental and
   45  emotional health, and enable students to overcome challenges,
   46  including:
   47         a. Self-awareness and self-management.
   48         b. Responsible decisionmaking.
   49         c. Resiliency.
   50         d. Relationship skills and conflict resolution.
   51         e. Understanding and respecting other viewpoints and
   52  backgrounds.
   53         f. For grades 9 through 12, developing leadership skills,
   54  interpersonal skills, organization skills, and research skills;
   55  creating a résumé, including a digital résumé; exploring career
   56  pathways; using state career planning resources; developing and
   57  practicing the skills necessary for employment interviews;
   58  workplace ethics and workplace law; managing stress and
   59  expectations; and self-motivation.
   60         5.a. For students in grades 6 through 12, the social,
   61  emotional, and physical effects of social media. This component
   62  must include, but need not be limited to, the negative effects
   63  of social media on mental health, including addiction; the
   64  distribution of misinformation on social media; how social media
   65  manipulates behavior; the permanency of sharing materials
   66  online; how to maintain personal security and identify
   67  cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human trafficking on the
   68  Internet; and how to report suspicious behavior encountered on
   69  the Internet.
   70         b. The Department of Education shall make available online
   71  the instructional material being used pursuant to this
   72  subparagraph, and each district school board shall notify
   73  parents of its availability.
   74         6.a. Water safety, including, but not limited to:
   75         (I)The importance of formal swimming lessons.
   76         (II)The proper use of flotation devices.
   77         (III)Awareness of water conditions.
   78         (IV)How to respond if caught in a rip current.
   79         (V)The proper supervision of swimming areas.
   80         (VI)Safe behaviors in and around the water, including the
   81  importance of avoiding alcohol and substance use during water
   82  recreation.
   83         (VII)The importance of pool barriers and fencing, using a
   84  life ring or a long object instead of attempting to personally
   85  save a potential drowning victim, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
   86  for drowning victims, and the order of administering such aid.
   87         (VIII) For grades 6 through 12, how to physically throw a
   88  rescue buoy, such as a life ring or similar device, during an
   89  emergency situation.
   90         b. Each school year, students must be provided with
   91  literature on water safety to take home and share with their
   92  parents or guardians. The literature must be available in
   93  English, Spanish, and Creole.
   94  
   95  Health education and life skills instruction and materials may
   96  not contradict the principles enumerated in subsection (3).
   97  
   98  The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
   99  and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
  100  Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
  101  recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
  102  offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
  103  other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
  104  initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
  105         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.