ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4763

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 8, 2025

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4763.

      As amended, this bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop an educational fact sheet on water safety. The fact sheet is to include information on: (1) how parents and guardians can reduce their child’s risk of injury or drowning while in, on, and around bodies of water; (2) the role water safety education courses and swimming lessons play in preventing incidents of injury or drowning; (3) the proper use of flotation devices; and (4) the importance of monitoring water conditions and swimming in areas monitored by a lifeguard. The fact sheet is to be developed in consultation with, and utilizing resources provided by, water safety organizations.

      Pursuant to the provisions of the amended bill, a school district is required to annually distribute the fact sheet to parents and guardians in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. A nonpublic school is encouraged, but not required, to distribute the fact sheet to parents and guardians in a manner determined by the nonpublic school.

      Additionally, the amended bill requires the Department of Education to develop a list of locations, organized by county, where swimming lessons and age-appropriate water safety courses providing instruction to promote safety in, on, and around bodies of water to reduce the risk of injury and drowning are offered, including courses and lessons that are offered for free or reduced prices. The list is to be made available to school districts and published on the department’s website and is required to be updated annually.  Each school district is required to provide access to the list on its website.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to provide that the Department of Education, rather than school districts, is responsible for developing a list of locations where swimming lessons and water safety courses are offered.  The list is required to be organized by county and updated annually.  The department is required to make the list available to school districts and publish the list on its website.  School districts are required to provide access to the list on their website.