Provides that the department of health may conduct education and outreach programs promoting public awareness of the dangers of fatal and non-fatal drowning.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6205A
SPONSOR: Reyes TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to education and
outreach programs on the dangers of fatal and non-fatal drowning
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to create a public education campaign
to inform the public about the dangers of fatal and non-fatal drowning.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new paragraph (r) to subdivision 1 of section 207 of
the public health law and requires that the commissioner of health
promote public awareness of the dangers of fatal and non-fatal drowning,
including but not limited to the unique risk factors and exposures asso-
ciated with infant and early childhood drowning, childhood and teenage
drowning, adult drowning, and the disparate risk of drowning on under-
served communities and individuals with developmental disabilities, and
methods to reduce the risks of drowning including water safety instruc-
tion and swim lessons.
Section 2 of this bill is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Drowning is today's unacknowledged epidemic. Drowning can happen to
anyone and it can occur anywhere, from open waters to swimming pools, to
bathtubs, toilets, or even buckets of water. According to the CDC,
drowning is the number one cause of death for small children under five.
And it is the second leading cause of death for children ages 5-14.
Drowning death rates are disproportionately higher for minorities and
those with disabilities or medical conditions. For example, according to
the CDC, Black people are 1.5 times higher than the rates for White
people. The disparity is highest among Black children ages 5-9 (rates
2.6 times higher) and ages 10-14 (rates 3.6 times higher). Even non-fa-
tal drowning can result in costly, long-term health problems, including
brain damage and long-term disabilities.
While there are many strategies to help reduce drowning, including
education, training, and supervision, the first step is ensuring aware-
ness. Despite the CDC's tragic statistics, there is little public
conversation to make New Yorkers more aware of the risks of drowning.
This bill would likewise require the Department of Health to create a
public education campaign to inform New Yorkers about the dangers of
fatal and non-fatal drowning.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6205--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 3, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. REYES, PAULIN, L. ROSENTHAL, SANTABARBARA, GLICK,
GIBBS, ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
-- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -- recom-
mitted to the Committee on Ways and Means in accordance with Assembly
Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to education and
outreach programs on the dangers of fatal and non-fatal drowning
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 207 of the public health law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (s) to read as follows:
3 (s) Promoting public awareness of the dangers of fatal and non-fatal
4 drowning, including but not limited to the unique risk factors and expo-
5 sures associated with infant and early drowning, childhood and teenage
6 drowning and adult drowning, the disparate risk of drowning in disadvan-
7 taged communities identified pursuant to section 75-0111 of the environ-
8 mental conservation law and with individuals with a mental disability as
9 defined by subdivision three of section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law,
10 and methods to reduce the risks of drowning, including but not limited
11 to water safety instruction, swim lessons, and awareness of water based
12 risks.
13 § 2. This act shall take effect June 1, 2025. Effective immediately,
14 the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
15 sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
16 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05540-03-4
