HI SB716

Appropriates $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 to the Department of Education to contract with a qualified nonprofit organization to establish an aquatic safety education program for elementary school students.

Requires the aquatic safety education program to be offered to elementary school students during regular school hours.

Addresses Hawaii's high child drowning rates, noting drowning was the leading cause of injury-related mortality for children aged 2014-2018, with 96 percent of fatal child drownings involving resident children.

Finds that less than 10 percent of public and public charter elementary schools currently integrate aquatic safety education into their physical education curriculums.

Takes effect on July 1, 2023.