Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Early in 2013, the Department of Public Health will be preparing regulations to implement a new law that requires summer programs and camps to limit certain water activities and make life jackets available to all children who may be present in a swimming or diving area but who can’t swim well.
Under the law, signed last July, no camp or program may prevent a parent from providing a life jacket for use by a child.
The law (Ch. 153 of the Acts of 2012) applies to programs run by cities and towns, as well as private camps. The DPH regulations are expected to be in place for the upcoming summer season.
Cities and towns operating municipal recreation programs with lake, pond or ocean access and water activities should review local procedures to make sure they comply with the new rules. The bill excludes artificial bodies of water such as swimming or wading pools.
The law requires summer programs and camps to determine the swimming ability of each child at the first swimming session to identify non-swimmers and at-risk swimmers. The law requires that these children be limited to swimming areas consistent with their capabilities.
The law, known as “Christian’s Law,” was enacted in response to the drowning of a 4-year-old boy at a summer camp in 2007. The child was not wearing a life jacket.