Designates May 15 of each year as "Water Safety Day" in New Jersey.

SJR106

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 106

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Corrado

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates May 15 of each year as �Water Safety Day�
in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating May 15 of each year
as �Water Safety Day� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

Water safety involves proactive measures to prevent drowning, accidents, and
injuries in proximity to bodies of water; and

Whereas,

The Red Cross specifies water competence as maintaining awareness of water
conditions, knowing physical limitations, and never swimming alone; and

Whereas,

Safe water activity requires supervision, access to safety equipment, and
awareness of lifesaving techniques; and

Whereas,

When practiced safely, water activities may encourage healthy development,
improved confidence, and collective wellbeing; and

Whereas,

Drowning is a costly public health issue, often caused by risky water behavior;
and

Whereas,

Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages one to 14, and
a leading cause for ages one to 17; and

Whereas,

More children ages one through four die from drowning than from any other
cause, except birth defects; and

Whereas,

Drowning results in over 4,000 unintentional fatalities each year, accounting
for an estimated $53 billion in direct and indirect costs; and

Whereas,

Worldwide, drowning claims 236,000 lives annually; and

Whereas,

Over half of all fatal and nonfatal drownings among those 15 years and older
occur in natural waters such as rivers, lakes, and oceans; and

Whereas,

Victims of drowning are disproportionately individuals of color, and 45 percent
of Hispanic children and 64 percent of African-American children lack the
ability to swim; and

Whereas,

African-American children ages five through 19 are 5.5 times more likely to
drown in a swimming pool; and

Whereas,

Providing formal swim lessons for youth under four has been shown to reduce the
risk of drowning by 88 percent; and��

Whereas,

May 15 is National and International Water Safety Day, designed to raise public
awareness of safe water practices; and

Whereas,
It is reasonable,
necessary, and in the public interest for this State to adopt measures to raise
awareness for behaviors that prevent water-related harms; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� May 15 of each year is
designated as �Water Safety Day� in New Jersey to raise awareness for safe
water practices and accident prevention.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to issue a proclamation recognizing �Water Safety Day�
in New Jersey, and to call upon public officials and citizens of this State to
annually observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution declares
May 15 of each year as �Water Safety Day� in the State of New Jersey to raise
public awareness of best practices in accident and injury prevention around
bodies of water.� The Red Cross specifies water competence as maintaining
awareness of water conditions, knowing physical limitations, and never swimming
alone.

���� When practiced safely, water
activities may encourage healthy development, improved confidence, and
collective wellbeing. Drowning, a consequence of unsafe aquatic behavior, is
the second leading cause of death for children ages five to 14, and a leading
cause for ages one to 17. �More children ages one through four die from
drowning than from any other cause, except birth defects. Drowning results in
over 4,000 unintentional fatalities each year and accounts for an estimated $53
billion in direct and indirect costs. �For each child who dies from drowning,
another eight receive emergency room care for non-fatal water related injuries.
�These nonfatal drownings can cause a number of long-term, significant
cognitive and motor skill impairments.

����
Victims
of drowning are disproportionately individuals of color, and 45 percent of
Hispanic children and 64 percent of African-American children lack the ability
to swim. �Forty-six percent of parents of children ages four through 17, 39
percent of African-Americans, 61 percent of men, and 42 percent of women say
they can perform basic water skills.
�
Seventy-nine
percent of children in households with incomes under $50,000 have limited or no
ability to swim.

���� Other states have enacted
legislation to recognize water injury prevention and the role that aquatic
activities play in good physical health, mental health, and quality of life. Tennessee
and Georgia have issued proclamations to respect Water Safety Month. Washington,
too, has enacted �Yori�s Law,� designating May 15 as Water Safety day in the
State. �May 15 is National and International water safety day, committed to
raise awareness about water safety and the importance of public education
regarding safe water practices.

���� In keeping, it is in the best
interest of this State � as a diverse and coastal environment � to acknowledge
the importance of water competence with this commemorative day.