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.