The House has passed the Senate version of legislation that would give more children a chance at swimming lessons, a bill that brought together two concepts for a more complete package.
SB 428, sponsored by Jacksonville Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough, would change eligibility for swimming vouchers to children ages 1 to 7 from 0 to 4. In doing so, the bill aligns with recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The Senate added language from a Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith drowning prevention education bill (SB 606), which includes safe bathing practices in post-partum education. As a result, SB 428 will require the Department of Health to provide educational measures about bathtub and pool safety, and would also encourage swimming lessons.
In the House, Rep. Kim Kendall carried the swimming lessons bill and Rep. Anna Eskamani sponsored the drowning prevention bill that was incorporated into the final product in the Senate Committee process.
Ahead of the unanimous vote in favor of the bill, Kendall said it was inspired by Will Moffatt, a volunteer swim instructor in St. Augustine “who is very passionate about making sure as many children can be saved from drowning” as possible.
