Bill
Bill > A3737
NJ A3737
NJ A3737Requires hospitals and birthing facilities to request new parents watch water safety video prior to discharge.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Commissioner of Health (DOH) to prepare and make available to each hospital and birthing facility in the State an informational video on water safety for children, including, but not limited to, information on the risks to children of drowning in bathtubs, pools, and other bodies of water, the importance of receiving instruction on basic swimming, water safety, water rescue, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills; the use of life jackets and other age appropriate flotation devices for children; and anti-entrapment drain covers, safety release systems, and pool fences. The video is to be shown to a new parent and any other adult family member present at the infant's birth, prior to an infant's birth or the new parent's discharge from a hospital or birthing facility. The commissioner may make the informational video available to hospitals and birthing facilities by posting it on the DOH's Internet website or by other electronic means. The bill also stipulates that the DOH mandate that each hospital and birthing facility in the State require new parents to watch the informational video specified in the bill, which is to be shown to a new parent and any other adult family member present at an infant's birth, prior to the parent's discharge, as part of the hospital or birthing facility's discharge procedures. As used in bill "birthing facility" means an inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the DOH that provides birthing and newborn care services.
AI Summary
This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to create and distribute a water safety video for new parents and any other adult present at the birth of an infant, which must be shown before the parent is discharged from a hospital or birthing facility, defined as a licensed facility providing birthing and newborn care. The video will cover crucial topics such as drowning risks in various water settings, the importance of swimming lessons, water rescue, CPR, proper use of flotation devices, and pool safety features like anti-entrapment drain covers and fences. The Department of Health will mandate that all hospitals and birthing facilities incorporate watching this video into their discharge procedures, and the video will be made available electronically.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (7)
Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)*,
Sean Kean (R)*,
Bill Spearman (D)*,
Margie Donlon (D),
Dawn Fantasia (R),
Michael Inganamort (R),
Luanne Peterpaul (D),
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A3737 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A4000/3737_I1.HTM |
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