HB0247 | School Swimming and Lifeguarding Programs

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts provisions in public education related to water safety.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill requires the inclusion of water safety instruction in the public education core curriculum standards for physical education.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0247

Year:

2025

Status:

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

Last Action:

Jan 21, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA believes that Water Safety and swimming are very important for children to learn, but requiring schools to teach them with no additional funding or proper facilities would be very difficult. It would be better to allow individual districts and schools the option to provide these services with proper support.

Impact on Children:

While Utah PTA recognizes the importance of teaching water safety to children, the ability to do so varies greatly from one LEA to another. Most schools do not have access to a swimming pool or trained water safety instructors. The decision to teach about water safety should be left to the individual LEA to decide.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

Support an adequately funded public school system by funding a 3% Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) increase over and above growth and inflation; implement policies to increase proficiency levels by improving attendance, reducing class sizes, and supporting teachers; increase academic excellence for all Utah students; and prioritize local control to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and individual schools.