Bill at SC statehouse would require most students to have 2 years of swimming lessons to graduate

State Representative Wendell Gilliard introduced a bill in the statehouse that is in response to the recent drownings that have taken place this summer.

The bill would require almost all school districts to offer swimming lessons to students. Students would also need two years of swimming instructions in order to graduate.

A copy of the text of the bill is below. What do you think about this bill???

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59‑29‑75 SO AS TO REQUIRE A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OFFER SWIMMING LESSONS TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT IF THE DISTRICT HAS WITHIN A TEN‑MILE RADIUS OF ITS BOUNDARIES A PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL, TO REQUIRE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT TO COMPLETE TWO YEARS OF SWIMMING INSTRUCTION IN ORDER TO GRADUATE FROM A HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 29, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

“Section 59‑29‑75. (A) If a public school district in this State has within a ten‑mile radius of its boundaries a public swimming pool, it must establish and offer a program of swimming instruction free of charge to students enrolled in the district. A student enrolled in a district that offers swimming instruction must complete two years of swimming instruction in order to graduate from a high school within the school district.

(B) For purposes of this section, ‘public swimming pool’ means an artificial structure used to impound water to provide for such recreational uses as bathing, swimming, diving, wading, spraying, sliding, floating, rafting, or other similar usage which is not built in connection with a single family residence and the use of which is not confined to the family of the residence and its private guests, or which is not owned, constructed, operated, or maintained by a church, synagogue, or religious organization, and which is equipped with floating safety alarms or door alarms to avoid unlawful use or entry.”

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.