Swimming Lesson Voucher Program.

(1) There is created within the department the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program. The purpose of the program is to increase water safety and prevent drownings in this state by offering vouchers for swimming lessons at no cost to families with an income of no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level who have one or more children between 1 and 7 years of age.

(2) The department shall do all of the following to implement the program:

(a) Establish a network of swimming lesson vendors that will accept the vouchers offered by the program in exchange for providing swimming lessons. To establish the network, the department may contract directly with swimming lesson vendors or contract with one or more nonprofit organizations that promote swimming safety to subcontract with and manage swimming lesson vendors in one or more counties, or both. To ensure that swimming lessons are available throughout this state, the department, either directly or through a contracted nonprofit organization, must attempt to secure at least one such vendor in each county. Any swimming lesson vendor that offers swimming lessons at a public pool that is owned or maintained by a county or municipality must, if requested by the department or by a nonprofit organization contracted by the department, participate in the program.

(b) Establish a method for members of the public to apply for swimming lesson vouchers and for determining an applicant’s eligibility. The department shall establish eligibility criteria necessary for a family to receive one or more vouchers from the program, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. The age of each child for whom a voucher is being sought, who must be between 1 and 7 years of age.

2. The family income level, which may be up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

3. The family’s address of residency in this state.

(c) Subject to specific appropriation, issue vouchers to eligible applicants.

(3) The department may seek grants or other public or private funding for the program.

(4) The department shall adopt rules to implement the program.