Substitute Bill No. 6503 - Public School Pool Safety

• Physical education instructors teaching courses that use swimming pools must be certified lifeguards, certified in CPR per Connecticut state regulations, and complete first aid training through the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or Department of Public Health.

• Schools may allow persons age 16 or older who meet instructor qualifications to assist in pool supervision, provided they work under the supervision of the certified instructor.

• Physical education courses using swimming pools must have at least one qualified instructor and one additional supervisor meeting the specified certifications present during instruction.

• Local and regional boards of education offering pool-based PE courses must develop a swimming pool safety plan that includes best practices and complies with state Public Health Code requirements.

• The Commissioner of Public Health must adopt regulations by July 1, 2014 to include school swimming pools and natatoriums in existing pool safety regulations.