A bill inspired by the drowning death of a Burke County four-year-old passed the Georgia Senate Wednesday.
Senate Bill 107, known as “Izzy’s Law” requires private swim instructors to develop and implement a written aquatic safety plan. The plan must be in place prior to the instructor giving lessons for hire to any unrelated person.
Instructors can download a model plan to be created by the Georgia Department of Public Health or develop their own. Each plan must specify a minimum ratio of students to instructors, allow a parent or caregiver to be present, make recommendations for secondary supervision and provide for the instructor or assistant be certified in CPR.
The bill is named for Israel “Izzy” Scott, a child who slipped into the deep end of a pool undetected and drowned as other children were drying off after a swimming lesson on June 14, 2022.
After an extensive investigation, Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams declined to charge local instructor Lexie Tenhuisen, 66.
After considerable public outcry and additional investigation, Augusta Circuit District Attorney Jared Williams instructed the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to issue a warrant for Tenhuisen’s arrest. She was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor.
Lead sponsor Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, said he worked closely with the family of Izzy Scott in crafting the legislation.
“Izzy’s Law would ensure that our children are protected during swim instruction through creating widely accessible safety plans for aquatic activities,” he said.
“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,” Burns said.
The bill’s sponsors included Burns as well as area Sens. Harold Jones, D-Augusta, and Lee Anderson, R-Grovetown. It passed unanimously in the Senate and now heads to the state House for consideration.
