SRC-JFA S.B. 1757 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1757
By: Fraser
Health & Human Services
4-28-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Rural Texas Youth Camps were inadvertently defined as Public Drinking
Water Suppliers in the Safe Drinking Water Act and, thus, are under the
rules and regulations set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and
adopted by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.  These
regulations, licenses, and fees are the same regulations that cities are
required to comply with in regard to public drinking water.  This bill
would require the Texas Department of Health to regulate the water supply
at a youth camp as provided by Section 144.009, Health and Safety Code,
and by rules adopted by the Texas Board of Health under that section.      

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1757 requires the Texas Department of Health to regulate
the water supply at a youth camp as provided by Section 144.009, Health
and Safety Code, and by rules adopted by the Texas Board of Health under
that section.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Board of Health in SECTION 1
(Section 341.051, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.   

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 341C, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
341.051, as follows:   

Sec. 341.051.  WATER SUPPLIES AT YOUTH CAMPS.  Provides that this
subchapter does not apply to drinking water supplied by a youth camp to
staff and campers at the camp and their visitors.  Requires the Texas
Department of Health (department) to regulate the water supply at a youth
camp as provided by Section 141.009 and rules adopted by the Texas Board
of Health under that section.  Requires those rules to comply with the
federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300f et seq.).
Requires youth camp drinking water to be classified as being furnished for
private use, regardless of the number of persons for whom water is
supplied.  Provides that this section applies only to those youth camps
currently licensed and approved by the department.  

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.