Legislation
Information
- Poll Florida Voters Document
- FTW ECAS Study
- Florida TaxWatch Releases Every Child a Swimmer Report, Thanks House, Senate Sponsors for Water Safety Legislation
- Every Child a Swimmer bill passed in Florida
- New Florida law takes aim at preventing child drowning deaths
- Florida Legislators Support ISHOF Inspired Bill Promoting Every Child A Swimmer Before Kindergarten
- Florida Senate - 2021: Bill No. SB 358- Every Child A Swimmer
Talking Points
- A 2020 poll of Florida registered voters confirmed that over 90% believe every child should be taught how to swim
- In the real world, less than half of Americans know how to swim
- Most school systems are not positioned to provide swim lessons for their students
- There are 1.2 million backyard and public-use pools, plus tens of thousands of natural bodies of water, everywhere in the State of Florida
- It is a basic parental responsibility to teach their children to swim
- To raise the issue with parents, SB 358 simply requires that the school system, during the kindergarten entry process, asks the parents if they have provided swim lessons to their child
- Parents can voluntarily answer the question or not answer the question without cause; this bill is NOT a mandate to require swim lessons
- Simply asking the question guarantees that every parent becomes aware of this parental responsibility.
- The long-term impact of this bill will be to create a safer, healthier citizenry since many parents will take action to teach their child to swim
- There are numerous scholarship programs for financial support should the parents be unable to afford but desire to provide swim lessons for their child
- implemented, SB 358 will not impact the budget of any school system.
- Once learned, basic swim skills will stay with each individual for the rest of their life
- There are numerous positive health benefits gained from swimming regardless of age.
- Research validates that children who learn to swim at an early age actually develop mentally and physically at a measurably better level, even performing better in school.