AB 1639: California Drowning Prevention and Rescue Act.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires specified lifeguards, firefighters, and peace officers to be trained to administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and requires the training to meet standards prescribed by the Emergency Medical Services Authority. Existing law requires, by January 1, 2027, a public safety agency that provides “911” call processing services for emergency medical response to provide prearrival medical instructions to “911” callers requiring medical assistance, including, among other things, CPR instructions for children and children and adults. Existing law also requires persons providing aquatic instruction at a public swimming pool to possess current certificates from an American Red Cross or a YMCA of the USA lifeguard training program, or have equivalent qualifications, as determined by the State Department of Public Health, and requires lifeguard service, as defined, to be provided for any public swimming pool that is of wholly artificial construction and for the use of which a direct fee is charged.

This bill would clarify that CPR instructions, for purposes of the above-described “911” provision, also include CPR instruction in both ventilation and chest compressions for calls that involve a drowning victim. The bill would require the State Department of Public Health, in coordination with other specified state entities, to review and update the state’s public communications efforts to ensure everyone in California is educated about the importance of CPR knowledge and how to obtain CPR training.

This bill would also require the Emergency Medical Services Authority to, on or before June 30, 2028, and biennially thereafter, submit a report to the Commission on Emergency Medical Services and the Legislature on California’s lifeguard workforce, as prescribed, to better understand and report on California’s lifeguard workforce. The bill would authorize the Emergency Medical Services Authority to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, utilize specified funds provided for these purposes in the “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids” license plate program, and would make this provision operative only if Assembly Bill 1634 of the 2025–26 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2027.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. April 13, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2. April 7, 2026Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
3. April 6, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
4. March 25, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
5. February 9, 2026Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and E.M.
6. January 27, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee February 26.
7. January 26, 2026Read first time. To print.