The existing law allows specific drowning or injury prevention organizations to provide informational materials about drowning prevention to public schools. These materials must currently be available in the three most commonly spoken languages at the school upon request.
AB 1005 amends the existing requirement to mandate materials in English and encourages including other common languages. The bill requires these materials to be provided at no cost to schools and distributed to students and parents. It also mandates that materials align with federal guidelines from the CDC, with written proof provided by the organization. Additionally, the bill involves the State Department of Education, which will collaborate with other state departments to make water safety and drowning prevention resources available online for schools. Public schools can then use these resources provided by organizations.
The bill also amends existing law regarding public swimming pools. The bill empowers the Department to assess current laws and propose changes or technical corrections to ensure these regulations are clear and aligned with modern public health practices.
AB 1005 defines “public school” to mean a school operated by a school district, county office of education, or a charter school. The bill also defines “water safety” to include age-appropriate education intended to promote safety in, on, and around bodies of water, and reduce the risk of injury or drowning.
(AB 1005 amends Section 51140 of, and adds Sections 51139, 51141, and 51900.1 to, the Education Code, and adds Section 116036 to, and adds Chapter 4.6 (commencing with Section 131359) to Part 1 of Division 112 of, the Health and Safety Code.)