Two dedicated legislators have responded to the alarming statistics that show drowning as the leading cause for death in Florida amongst children under the age of four. Sen. Travis Hutson, and Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera introduced a system of vouchers. Since 2020, 256 children of this age have tragically drowned in Florida. The legislation SB 544/581 is intended to create a voucher program within the Department of Health that offers swimming lessons to families with low incomes and young children.
Swim Lesson Vouchers – Key Legislation Components
Targeted assistance: This legislation targets specifically families with at least one child aged four or under whose income is within 200% of federal poverty levels. The program’s focus on this group aims to reduce the impact of drownings in low-income families.
Department of Health Supervision: In order to administer the program, the Department of Health will contract with a network of swimming lessons vendors in order to facilitate voucher distribution. This will ensure a coordinated effort in reaching families who are in need, and connecting them with reputable providers of swim education.
Aiming for Prevention: Senator Hutson stresses the importance of proactive prevention by taking swimming lessons. The program’s goal is to reduce drowning by teaching essential swimming skills to children at high risk.
No Appropriation and Diverse Sources of Funding: This proposed legislation is scheduled to come into effect on July 1, 2020, but does not contain a specific budget. It opens the door to funding from various sources. Vouchers could be funded by the government or private grants. This flexible funding approach increases the sustainability and scalability.
Florida’s Pool Landscape
Florida has more than 1,5 million residential swimming pools. This means that there is one pool per 14 residents. Recognizing this reality, legislators acknowledge the need for an integrated approach to water safety that goes beyond physical pool barriers. The voucher program is designed to close the gap between the two by providing children with the necessary skills to be able to swim. This skill is crucial to their safety, especially in an area with so many water resources.
There is no greater priority for parents than their children’s health. That’s why we have taken a big step to provide more access to swimming classes for young children in Florida. This bill is a common sense but important one that aims to end youth drowning in Florida. It also ensures every child in Florida has the ability to swim.
Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera
The voucher program proposed by Sen. Travis Hutson, and Rep. Demi Cabrera is a proactive response to an issue that affects Florida’s young residents. The number of child drownings is alarming. This legislation provides a solution to the problem by allowing families with financial challenges to access swim lessons.
This bill will save lives by teaching high-risk children how to swim.
Sen. Travis Hutson
This initiative has the potential to save many lives by prioritizing the prevention of accidents over the remediation, and by leveraging a variety of funding sources. It will also ensure that all children in Florida have the chance to learn this essential skill. The proposed legislation is aimed at a safer, more inclusive future for children in the Sunshine State.
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