Izzy’s Law Passes Georgia Senate This Week

The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 107, also known as Izzy’s Law, this week. Sponsored by Sen. Max Burns (R – Sylvania), Izzy’s Law would require the Department of Public Health to develop a widely-accessible and downloadable safety plan for aquatic activities based on the standards for nationally accredited swim instructors. Specifically, Izzy’s Law would require that each private swim instructor has a safety aquatic plan that includes but is not limited to: a necessary student to instructor ratio, a secondary supervisor to be present in assisting the safety of all swimmers and all parents and guardians to have the ability to be present at private swim lessons

Izzy’s Law is named after Israel “Izzy” Scott, a 4-year old who died as a result of a drowning accident during a backyard swim lesson in Burke County, Georgia on June 14, 2022.

“I am proud of my Senate colleagues for passing Izzy’s Law,” said Sen. Burns. “This bill is incredibly important to me, as I have worked closely with Izzy’s family through every step of the legislative process. Izzy’s Law would ensure that our children are protected during swim instruction through creating widely accessible safety plans for aquatic activities. This bill honors the life of Israel Scott and the entire Scott family and I am grateful for their advocacy. We must continue to work for the safety of all young people throughout the state, and I am happy to report that Izzy’s Law passed the Senate with bipartisan support.”

SB 107 now crosses over to the Georgia House of Representatives for further consideration.

First Reader Summary – A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health, so as to enact “Izzy’s Law”; to provide that the Department of Public Health shall develop and make available for download from its internet website a model aquatic safety plan based on national standards for private swim instructors; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

You can read more on SB 107 here.

Sen. Max Burns serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics. He represents the 23^rd Senate District, which includes Burke, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, McDuffie, Screven, Taliaferro, and Warren County as well as portions of Columbia and Richmond County. He may be reached by email at max.burns@senate.state.gov

legis.ga.gov