CaliforniaCalifornia Drowning Prevention and Rescue Act.
What it does
Existing law requires specified lifeguards, firefighters, and peace officers to be trained to administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and requires the training to meet standards prescribed by the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Existing law requires, by January 1, 2027, a public safety agency that provides "911" call processing services for emergency medical response to provide prearrival medical instructions to "911" callers requiring medical assistance, including, among other things, CPR instructions for children and children and adults. Existing law also requires persons providing aquatic instruction at a public swimming pool to possess current certificates from an American Red Cross or a YMCA of the USA lifeguard training program, or have equivalent qualifications, as determined by the State Department of Public Health, and requires lifeguard service, as defined, to be provided for any public swimming pool that is of wholly artificial construction and for the use of which a direct fee is charged.
More detail
This bill would clarify that CPR instructions, for purposes of the above-described "911" provision, also include CPR instruction in both ventilation and chest compressions for calls that involve a drowning victim. The bill would require the State Department of Public Health, in coordination with other specified state entities, to review and update the state's public communications efforts to ensure everyone in California is educated about the importance of CPR knowledge and how to obtain CPR training.
This bill would also require the Emergency Medical Services Authority to, on or before June 30, 2028, and biennially thereafter, submit a report to the Commission on Emergency Medical Services and the Legislature on California's lifeguard workforce, as prescribed, to better understand and report on California's lifeguard workforce. The bill would authorize the Emergency Medical Services Authority to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, utilize specified funds provided for these purposes in the "Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids" license plate program, and would make this provision operative only if Assembly Bill 1634 of the 2025–26 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.Latest
- Apr 7Re-referred to Com. on E.M.Minor
- Apr 6From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.Minor
- Mar 24
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Emergency Management] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and E.M.Minor
- Jan 27From printer. May be heard in committee February 26.
- Jan 26Read first time. To print.Introduced