S.B. 716 Summary

• 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 and comply with chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes procurement requirements.

• Addresses Hawaii's drowning crisis, which was the leading cause of injury-related mortality for children between 2014 and 2018, with 96 percent of fatal child drownings occurring among resident children.

• Cites findings that less than 10 percent of public and public charter elementary schools integrate aquatic safety education into their physical education curriculums, and assessment data showing only 31 percent of Hawaii students could swim 25 yards.

• Takes effect on July 1, 2023.