HBA-BSM C.S.S.B. 575 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 575
By: Staples
Higher Education
4/16/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1973, the legislature assigned the responsibility for licensing and
regulating youth camps to the Texas Department of Health (department).  In
recent years, personnel from some of the department's regional offices have
insisted that private or independent  institutions of higher education that
provide activities for young people on campuses during the summer months or
other periods of low demand should be regulated by the department.  The
department's regulations apply to any property or facilities having the
general characteristics of a day camp, resident camp, or travel camp as
these terms are generally understood. C.S.S.B. 575 clarifies that the Texas
Youth Camp Safety and Health Act does not apply to a facility or program
operated by or on the campus of an institution of higher education or an
accredited private or independent college or university. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 575 amends the Health and Safety Code to exempt a facility or
program operated by or on the campus of an institution of higher education
or a private or independent institution of higher education from the
provisions of the Texas Youth Camp Safety and Health Act. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.B. 575 modifies the original bill by adding to the exemption from the
Texas Youth Camp Safety and Health Act a facility or program operated by or
on the campus of an institution of higher education.