1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public health; establishing an adaptive swimming lessons and water
1.3 safety education program for children with developmental delays and their parents;
1.4 appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
1.5 145.
1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. [145.9283] ADAPTIVE SWIMMING LESSONS AND WATER SAFETY
1.8 EDUCATION PROGRAM.
1.9 Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
1.10 the meanings given.
1.11 (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.
1.12 (c) "Eligible child" means a child who:
1.13 (1) is at least three years old and under 21 years old;
1.14 (2) has been diagnosed with a developmental delay; and
1.15 (3) meets income eligibility requirements by being enrolled in medical assistance or
1.16 MinnesotaCare; participating in the federal free and reduced-price meals program or Head
1.17 Start; receiving Supplemental Security Income; or being part of a family enrolled in the
1.18 special supplemental nutrition assistance program for women, infants, and children, the
1.19 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Minnesota family investment program, or
1.20 energy assistance.
1.21 Subd. 2.Program established. (a) The commissioner must establish and administer a
1.22 program to provide adaptive swimming lessons and water safety education to eligible
2.1 children and their parents. The commissioner must administer the program in collaboration
2.2 with the city of St. Paul and autism advocacy organizations with experience educating
2.3 families on water safety issues for children with autism and must consult with water safety
2.4 instructors with experience teaching water safety strategies to families and children around
2.5 the United States.
2.6 (b) Under the program, the commissioner must:
2.7 (1) distribute program vouchers to families of eligible children for adaptive swimming
2.8 lessons and ensure that vouchers are distributed equitably around the state;
2.9 (2) ensure eligible children in low-income communities have access to adaptive swimming
2.10 lessons;
2.11 (3) ensure parents of eligible children participating in adaptive swimming lessons are
2.12 provided with culturally appropriate water safety education;
2.13 (4) fund stipends for swim instructors, instructor training, and instructor certification on
2.14 teaching neurodivergent children;
2.15 (5) rent facilities for adaptive swim lessons and water safety education; and
2.16 (6) in cooperation with autism advocacy organizations, provide community outreach,
2.17 track participation in the program by eligible children and their parents, and provide continued
2.18 support to families of eligible children after eligible children and parents complete the
2.19 program.
2.20 Subd. 3.Program elements. (a) The program must offer at least two sessions every six
2.21 months and must serve at least 100 children per year.
2.22 (b) An eligible child who receives a program voucher must receive:
2.23 (1) 12 weeks of swimming instruction from an instructor who meets the requirements
2.24 in subdivision 4; and
2.25 (2) a swim kit for participation, including necessary safety and swimming equipment.
2.26 (c) Parents of eligible children participating in the program must receive water safety
2.27 education, including remote education facilitated by a water safety instructor with experience
2.28 teaching water safety strategies to families and children around the United States. An autism
2.29 advocacy organization with experience educating families on water safety issues for children
2.30 with autism may provide education and support to these parents to help them stay engaged
2.31 in and accountable to the program.
3.1 Subd. 4.Requirements for instructors. All instructors providing adaptive swimming
3.2 lessons under this program must:
3.3 (1) be certified swim instructors, level 1 or higher;
3.4 (2) hold water safety instructor certification from the American Red Cross;
3.5 (3) complete water safety education with a water safety instructor with experience
3.6 teaching water safety strategies to families and children around the United States to ensure
3.7 culturally competent, inclusive, and specialized instruction; and
3.8 (4) hold certification in teaching neurodivergent children.
3.9 Subd. 5.Community outreach and education. The commissioner must engage in
3.10 community outreach on the program, track the program's impact, and make continuing
3.11 education on water safety available to parents and children who participated in the program.
3.12 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS; ADAPTIVE SWIMMING LESSONS AND WATER
3.13 SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM.
3.14 $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the
3.15 general fund to the commissioner of health for the adaptive swimming lessons and water
3.16 safety education program under Minnesota Statutes, section 145.9283. Of these
3.17 appropriations:
3.18 (1) $300,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the cost of adaptive
3.19 swimming lessons, swim kits, and facility use;
3.20 (2) $100,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for instructor stipends
3.21 and certification and training costs;
3.22 (3) $30,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $30,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the water safety
3.23 education program for parents;
3.24 (4) $20,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $20,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for a grant to Maangaar
3.25 Voices to provide community outreach, track participation in the program by eligible children
3.26 and their parents, and provide continued support after the children and parents complete
3.27 the program; and
3.28 (5) $20,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $20,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for administration.
