Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 1538
       
       
        
       By Senator Torres
       
       
       
       
       
       25-00057-24                                           20241538__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to water safety; creating s. 258.018,
    3         F.S.; requiring state parks to have a certified
    4         lifeguard on duty at designated swimming areas within
    5         the park during certain timeframes; requiring the
    6         Department of Environmental Protection to install a
    7         water rescue station at each designated swimming area;
    8         defining the term “water rescue station”; requiring
    9         that police vehicles be equipped with a rescue buoy;
   10         requiring that the staffing for each shift at a fire
   11         station include at least one firefighter who is
   12         certified in rescue diving; providing an effective
   13         date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 258.018, Florida Statutes, is created to
   18  read:
   19         258.018 State park designated swimming areas; lifeguards
   20  and rescue equipment required; emergency responder
   21  requirements.—
   22         (1) A state park must have a lifeguard certified pursuant
   23  to s. 514.071 on duty at any designated swimming area within the
   24  park during all of the following timeframes:
   25         (a) A state holiday, if the area is open to the public
   26  during such time.
   27         (b) Times of historical peak usage, as determined by the
   28  Division of Recreation and Parks.
   29         (2) The Department of Environmental Protection shall
   30  install a water rescue station at any designated swimming area
   31  within a state park. As used in this subsection, the term “water
   32  rescue station” means a freestanding or wall-mounted life ring
   33  that a bystander may use to help a person who is in distress in
   34  the water.
   35         (3) Police vehicles must be equipped with a rescue buoy,
   36  such as a life ring or similar device, for a water safety
   37  incident.
   38         (4) The staffing for each shift at a fire station must
   39  include at least one firefighter who is certified in rescue
   40  diving and who is not a captain or battalion chief, so that in
   41  the event of an incident when a diver is needed, the captain or
   42  battalion chief may direct the staff’s response.
   43         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.