Senate passes bill to add regulations to stop kids from drowning

The Senate has unanimously passed a bipartisan bill that lawmakers hope will save kids from downing, which is the No. 1 killer for children 4 and under.

SB 658 would add new pool regulations for both licensed vacation rental properties and rental homes.

“This is a crisis that we have the power and the responsibility to confront,” Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith said before the final vote. “And I am so proud of the Florida Senate and to serve in a deliberative body that is taking a stand in favor of child drowning prevention.

The bill was co-sponsored by Sens. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican, and Smith, an Orlando Democrat. They filed bills that were merged together during the Committee process to form tougher legislation. They dubbed their now-joint bill a “two-headed dragon.”

Under the legislation, all short-term and long-term rentals within 150 feet of a body of water must have at least one water or pool safety feature, such as exit alarms. A landlord or vacation rental owner must also make sure that a property with a pool has at least one water pool safety device, such as a pool cover or pool fence.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation could suspend or revoke a vacation rental license or issue fines for violations. Landlords could also be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for failing to obey the water safety rules.

Smith thanked Airbnb for being supportive of the changes.

“Folks, if you would have told me six months ago that I would be getting a bill through the Florida Senate to regulate vacation rentals with the support of Airbnb, I would have called you crazy,” Smith quipped on the Senate floor.

In Florida, 119 children died by drowning last year, a record number of tragedies.

“That’s 119 families devastated by loss,” Smith said. “I do believe that 100% of those fatal child drownings were preventable, and the solutions are right in front of us, not just through this bill, but through multiple bills this Session.”

The companion measure (HB 79) has not yet reached the House floor.

Another water safety bill sponsored by Smith (SB 606) was temporarily postponed Thursday on the Senate floor. The measure would require the Department of Health to give practical child water safety information to new parents. Parents would receive the information at hospitals and birthing centers, as well as from home birth providers and childbirth educators.

In addition, SB 428 filed by Sen. Clay Yarborough would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program for more children. That bill went through the Committee process and is now ready for the Senate floor.

When reached for comment, Smith said SB 606 was temporarily postponed to be amended into Yarborough’s bill so they can be voted on together on the Senate floor.