Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 247 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Ballard, Melissa G.

Final action

House/ filed 3/7/2025

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• requires the inclusion of water safety instruction in the public education core curriculum standards for physical education;
• allows the exemption of a student from required water safety instruction under certain circumstances;
• allows a local education agency (LEA) to:
• provide swim instruction, lifeguard certification training, and swim instructor certification training as courses under certain conditions;
• construe the completion of certain courses toward physical education credit requirements or other requirements; and
• enter into an agreement with certain providers to offer certain programs; and
• grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

14
53G-10-409
53G-10-410
School Swimming and Lifeguarding Programs
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Melissa G. Ballard
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill enacts provisions in public education related to water safety.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
requires the inclusion of water safety instruction in the public education core curriculum 
standards for physical education;
allows the exemption of a student from required water safety instruction under certain 
circumstances; 
allows a local education agency (LEA) to:
provide swim instruction, lifeguard certification training, and swim instructor 
certification training as courses under certain conditions;
construe the completion of certain courses toward physical education credit 
requirements or other requirements; and
enter into an agreement with certain providers to offer certain programs; and
grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53G-10-409
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53G-10-410
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53G-10-409
 is enacted to read:
53G-10-409. Water safety instruction -- Requirements.
(1)
In accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
, the 
state board shall make rules to develop and implement water safety instruction as part of 
the core curriculum standards for instruction in physical education, beginning with the 
2027-2028 academic year.
(2)
The state board shall:
(a)
consult with the American Red Cross or other similar organization to make the rules 
described in Subsection 
(1)
; and
(b)
ensure that the rules described in Subsection 
(1)
 include instruction in:
(i)
safe behaviors in and around water;
(ii)
water condition awareness;
(iii)
the importance of pool barriers and fencing;
(iv)
the proper use of flotation devices;
(v)
the importance of swim lessons;
(vi)
the proper supervision of swim areas;
(vii)
the importance of avoiding alcohol and substance use in and around water;
(viii)
recognizing when someone is in trouble and calling for help; and
(ix)
emergency response techniques, including:
(A)
calling for emergency assistance; and
(B)
CPR training described in Section 
53G-10-408
.
(3)
Beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year, an LEA shall ensure that each student 
receives instruction on water safety as described in this section.
(4)
A student is exempt from completing water safety instruction if:
(a)
the student's parent or legal guardian requests that the student be exempt from water 
safety instruction; or
(b)
the student has an IEP, and water safety instruction is inconsistent with the student's 
IEP.
(5)
Nothing in this section requires access to a body of water for practical instruction in the 
concepts described in this section.
Section 2, Section 
53G-10-410
 is enacted to read:
53G-10-410. Swim instruction -- Swim instructor certification training -- 
Lifeguard certification training -- Requirements.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Lifeguard certification training" means a training and certification program for a 
student who is at least 15 years old and that is certified by the American Red Cross or 
an equivalent program approved by the Department of Health and Human Services 
that:
(i)
a certified lifeguard instructor teaches at a public or private facility;
(ii)
a student may take to satisfy credit requirements or other requirements for 
physical education; and
(iii)
offers an opportunity for a student to enter the work force as a lifeguard after 
certification.
(b)
(i)
"Swim instruction" means swim lessons from a certified swim instructor that 
instruct a student in knowing how to:
(A)
enter and exit water that is over the head;
(B)
float or tread water for at least one minute;
(C)
turn over and around in the water;
(D)
swim at least 25 yards; and
(E)
safely exit the water.
(ii)
"Swim instruction" includes swim lessons at the beginning, intermediate, and 
advanced levels, including other distinctions of skill and ability, as the state board 
defines in rule.
(c)
"Swim instructor certification training" means a training and certification program 
for a student who is at least 15 years old and that:
(i)
is certified by the American Red Cross or an equivalent program approved by the 
Department of Health and Human Services;
(ii)
a certified lifeguard instructor or swim instructor teaches at a public or private 
facility;
(iii)
a student may take to satisfy credit requirements or other requirements for 
physical education; and
(iv)
offers an opportunity for a student to enter the work force as a swim instructor 
after certification.
(2)
Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, and subject to Subsection 
(3)
, an LEA 
may include courses for swim instruction, lifeguard certification training, or swim 
instructor certification training for credit, including toward a credit requirement or other 
requirements for physical education.
(3)
Subject to Subsection 
(4)
 or (5), a student may receive credit toward a credit 
requirement or other requirements for physical education by:
(a)
completing a course in swim instruction;
(b)
completing a swim instruction certification training program; or
(c)
completing a lifeguard certification training program.
(4)
(a)
If an LEA does not have access to an LEA pool, the LEA may partner with a 
recreation center, public facility, another LEA, or a private facility that is under the 
supervision of a certified lifeguard, to provide swim instruction to the LEA's students 
as part of physical education within the core standards.
(b)
An LEA shall construe the completion of a swim instruction course outside of the 
school day or school year toward a credit requirement or other requirements for 
physical education for a student if the student's parent submits an application for 
credit to the LEA that includes a certification or verification from the relevant 
instructor verifying:
(i)
the number of swim instruction hours the course comprised; and
(ii)
the minimum required instruction described in Subsection 
(1)
.
(5)
(a)
An LEA may partner with a recreation center or other public or private facility 
under the supervision of a certified lifeguard to provide lifeguard certification 
training or swim instructor certification training to the LEA's students as part of 
physical education within the core standards.
(b)
An LEA shall construe the completion of a lifeguard certification training program 
or a swim instructor certification training program toward a credit requirement or 
other requirements for physical education for a student if the student's parent submits 
an application to the LEA that includes a certification or verification from the 
relevant instructor verifying:
(i)
the number of lifeguard certification training hours or swim instructor certification 
training hours the course comprised; and
(ii)
the minimum required instruction described in Subsection 
(1)
.
(6)
The state board shall, in accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative 
Rulemaking Act
, make rules to implement this section.
Section 3. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
July 1, 2025
.
1-16-25 2:26 PM