Committee recommends do pass for bill requiring schools to share water-safety information

A sponsor introduced House Bill 532 to require school districts, charter schools and school boards to provide parents and caregivers with information about water safety. Casey McGovern, executive director of the Every Child a Swimmer program, testified that drowning remains a leading cause of childhood death and nonfatal drowning injuries.

"Drowning is the number 1 cause of death for children 1 to 4. And it's the number 2 cause of death for children 5 to 14," McGovern said. She described the bill as an education-and-outreach measure, not a new curriculum for teachers. The bill would make resources available to parents and caregivers through schools as part of routine communications — for example, a web post, robo call or flyers that go home.

McGovern and witnesses told the committee the nonprofit maintains a free toolkit used in other states, and that Every Child a Swimmer can supply printed flyers at no cost to schools that request them. The sponsor said the measure is modeled on laws already adopted in Florida, Georgia and Arkansas. The testimony pointed to other prevention measures the nonprofit pursues, including learn-to-swim scholarships for lower-income families.

Committee members asked about costs and timing. Witnesses said posting resources on school websites or including them in parent packets should minimize costs; organizers recommended distributing materials in spring or by the start of the school year. One committee member noted the bill's language about distribution "no later than the tenth school day of the school year," and another suggested allowing flexibility because the first days of school are busy.

Representative Romero moved a do pass recommendation; Representative Rubio seconded. The committee approved the do pass on a recorded vote of 6–0. Committee members encouraged the sponsor to consult local school boards and districts on implementation details.