Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim July 2026, as Rip Current Awareness Month in the State of New York
Assembly Resolution 1399 is a memorializing resolution that urges Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim July 2026 as Rip Current Awareness Month in New York State. The resolution is primarily educational and commemorative, aiming to increase public awareness of rip currents, how they form, where they are likely to occur, and the dangers they pose to swimmers and beachgoers.
The resolution explains that rip currents are fast-moving channels of water that can quickly pull swimmers away from shore, and it includes basic safety guidance such as not swimming against the current, swimming parallel to shore to escape, and using lifeguarded beaches. It also highlights that rip currents occur on surf beaches, including Great Lakes beaches, and cites national data on drownings and rescues to underscore the public safety concern. The measure is tied to the memory of Alexandra Demoura, whose death in a rip current is referenced as a motivating example for greater education and prevention efforts.
Because this is a resolution rather than a statutory bill, it does not amend the New York Consolidated Laws or create enforceable legal requirements. Its practical impact is to encourage a gubernatorial proclamation and to promote public education, beach safety awareness, and potentially local or state outreach efforts around rip current hazards. The affected parties are swimmers, beachgoers, lifeguards, coastal and Great Lakes communities, and public safety and emergency response agencies.
The available text reflects strongly supportive sentiment. The resolution is framed in solemn, preventive terms and emphasizes the importance of education and awareness to avoid future tragedies. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, and no opposition is indicated. The tone is memorializing and public-safety oriented, with the sponsor and supporters presenting the measure as a common-sense awareness effort.
No explicit points of contention appear in the provided record. Because the measure is a nonbinding resolution, there is little indication of policy conflict over legal authority or fiscal impact. The only potentially sensitive aspect is the use of a personal tragedy, Alexandra Demoura’s death, to motivate the awareness campaign, but the text presents that reference as a central reason for the resolution rather than a disputed issue.