HB4927 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 15154 LNS 28298 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4927

Introduced , by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2310/2310-750 new
105 ILCS 5/2-3.208 new
105 ILCS 5/22-120 new
105 ILCS 5/27-17	from Ch. 122, par. 27-17
105 ILCS 5/27-17.5 new

Amends the School Code. Requires, by no later than January 1, 2027, the State Board of Education, in consultation with water safety experts, to develop or adopt and make available to school districts a model program of instruction on water safety. Requires the State Board to provide to all public and nonpublic schools an informational notice regarding water safety developed by the Department of Public Health, and requires the school to distribute the notice to the parent or legal guardian of each student enrolled in the school. Includes website posting requirements by the State Board, school districts, and nonpublic schools regarding the informational notice. Sets forth liability exemptions. Makes conforming changes in the Department of Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Effective immediately.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2310-750 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-750 new)

Sec. 2310-750. Water safety informational notice for State Board of Education. By no later than July 1, 2027, the Department shall develop and provide to the State Board of Education a notice in English, Spanish, and Arabic containing information and best practices regarding water safety. By no later than July 1 of every year thereafter, the Department shall update the informational notice to account for any change in water safety best practices and provide the updated notice to the State Board of Education.

The Department, its officers, and its employees are immune from civil liability for any damages allegedly caused by, arising out of, or relating to the informational notice.

Section 10. The School Code is amended by adding Sections 2-3.208, 22-120, and 27-17.5 and by changing Section 27-17 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.208 new)

Sec. 2-3.208. Model program of water safety instruction; water safety informational notice.

(a) By no later than January 1, 2027, the State Board of Education, in consultation with water safety experts, shall develop or adopt and shall make available to school districts a model program of instruction on water safety. The model program of instruction on water safety must include, at a minimum, all of the following topics, as appropriate:

(1) The proper use of a flotation device.

(2) Awareness of water conditions.

(3) The proper supervision of swim areas.

(4) Safe behaviors in and around the water.

(5) The importance of pool barriers and fencing.

(6) The importance of water safety and swim skills training.

(7) The importance of avoiding alcohol and substance use with water recreation.

(8) The importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for drowning victims and the importance of administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

(b) The State Board, in consultation with water safety experts, shall review the model program of instruction on water safety under subsection (a) at least once every year and shall update and revise the model program of instruction on water safety as needed.

(c) Upon receipt of the informational notice under Section 2310-750 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the State Board shall provide the informational notice to all public and nonpublic schools.

On or before October 1, 2027 and on or before every October 1 thereafter, the public or nonpublic school shall distribute, either electronically or by mail, the informational notice to the parent or legal guardian of each student enrolled in the public or nonpublic school.

(d) By no later than October 1, 2027 and by no later than October 1 of every year thereafter, the State Board shall post the English, Spanish, and Arabic versions of the informational notice received under Section 2310-750 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois on the State Board's website.

(e) The State Board and its members, officers, and employees are immune from civil liability for any damages allegedly caused by, arising out of, or relating to the informational notice under Section 2310-750 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(105 ILCS 5/22-120 new)

Sec. 22-120. Posting of water safety informational notice. By no later than October 1, 2027, each school district and nonpublic school shall post a link on its website to the State Board of Education's website where the English, Spanish, and Arabic versions of the informational notice under Section 2310-750 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is required to be posted under subsection (d) of Section 2-3.208 of this Code.

A school district or nonpublic school, its officers, its employees, and the members of its governing body are immune from civil liability for any damages allegedly caused by, arising out of, or relating to the informational notice under Section 2310-750 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(105 ILCS 5/27-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-17)

Sec. 27-17. Safety education. School boards of public schools and all boards in charge of educational institutions supported wholly or partially by the State may provide instruction in safety education in all grades and include such instruction in the courses of study regularly taught therein.

In this Section, "safety education" means and includes instruction in the following:

1. automobile safety, including traffic regulations, highway safety, and the consequences of alcohol consumption and the operation of a motor vehicle;

2. safety in the home, including safe gun storage;

3. safety in connection with recreational activities;

4. safety in and around school buildings;

5. safety in connection with vocational work or training;

6. cardio-pulmonary resuscitation for students enrolled in grades 9 through 11;

7. for students enrolled in grades 6 through 8, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and how to use an automated external defibrillator by watching a training video on those subjects; and

8. (blank). for students enrolled in prekindergarten through grade 6, water safety that incorporates evidence-based water safety instructional materials and resources.

Such boards may make suitable provisions in the schools and institutions under their jurisdiction for instruction in safety education for not less than 16 hours during each school year.

The curriculum in all educator preparation programs approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall contain instruction in safety education for teachers that is appropriate to the grade level of the educator license. This instruction may be by specific courses in safety education or may be incorporated in existing subjects taught in the educator preparation program.

(Source: P.A. 102-971, eff. 1-1-23; 103-567, eff. 12-8-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-17.5 new)

Sec. 27-17.5. Water safety instruction. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, a school district shall ensure that each student who is enrolled in the school district receives age-appropriate and grade-appropriate instruction on water safety that includes, at a minimum, the topics listed under subsection (a) of Section 2-3.208 of this Code. The water safety instruction must be provided as part of a physical education course.

Each school district may customize the instruction on water safety based on the geographic characteristics and other special circumstances applicable to the school district.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.