By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 1050
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the regulation of youth camps.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subdivisions (2) and (5), Section 141.002, Health
1-5 and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-6 (2) "Day camp" includes any camp that primarily
1-7 operates during any portion of the day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
1-8 for a period of four or more consecutive days but may incidentally
1-9 offer not more than two overnight stays each camp session. The
1-10 term does not include a facility required to be licensed with
1-11 [licensed as a child care facility by] the Department of Protective
1-12 and Regulatory Services.
1-13 (5) "Youth camp" means a facility or property, other
1-14 than a facility required to be licensed by the Department of
1-15 Protective and Regulatory Services, that:
1-16 (A) has the general characteristics of a day
1-17 camp, resident camp, or travel camp;
1-18 (B) is used primarily or partially for
1-19 recreational, athletic, religious, or educational activities; and
1-20 (C) accommodates at least five minors who attend
1-21 or temporarily reside at the camp for all or part of at least four
1-22 days.
1-23 SECTION 2. Chapter 141, Health and Safety Code, is amended
1-24 by adding Section 141.0021 to read as follows:
1-25 Sec. 141.0021. EXEMPTION. This chapter does not apply to a
2-1 facility or program operated by a private or independent
2-2 institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003,
2-3 Education Code.
2-4 SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 141.005, Health and
2-5 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
2-6 (a) A person holding a license issued under this chapter
2-7 must renew the license annually by submitting a renewal application
2-8 on a date determined by board rule [not later than May 1 of each
2-9 year] on a form provided by the department.
2-10 SECTION 4. Section 141.009, Health and Safety Code, is
2-11 amended to read as follows:
2-12 Sec. 141.009. STANDARDS. The board by rule shall establish
2-13 health and safety standards for youth camps. The standards may
2-14 relate to:
2-15 (1) adequate and proper supervision at all times of
2-16 camp activities;
2-17 (2) qualifications for directors, supervisors, and
2-18 staff and sufficient numbers of those persons;
2-19 (3) proper safeguards for sanitation and public
2-20 health;
2-21 (4) adequate medical services for personal health and
2-22 first aid;
2-23 (5) proper procedures for food preparation, handling,
2-24 and mass feeding;
2-25 (6) healthful and sufficient water supply;
2-26 (7) proper waste disposal;
3-1 (8) proper water safety procedures for swimming pools,
3-2 lakes, and waterways;
3-3 (9) safe boating equipment;
3-4 (10) proper maintenance and safe use of motor
3-5 vehicles;
3-6 (11) safe buildings and physical facilities;
3-7 (12) proper fire precautions;
3-8 (13) safe and proper recreational and other equipment;
3-9 [and]
3-10 (14) proper regard for density and use of the
3-11 premises; and
3-12 (15) records of criminal convictions of camp
3-13 personnel.
3-14 SECTION 5. Subsection (c), Section 141.016, Health and
3-15 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
3-16 (c) The penalty may not exceed $2,000 [$100] a day for each
3-17 violation.
3-18 SECTION 6. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-19 (b) The change in law made by this Act to Section 141.016,
3-20 Health and Safety Code, applies only to a violation that occurs on
3-21 or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this
3-22 section, a violation occurs before the effective date of this Act
3-23 if any element of the violation occurs before that date.
3-24 (c) A violation that occurs before the effective date of
3-25 this Act is covered by the law in effect when the violation
3-26 occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that
4-1 purpose.
4-2 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
4-3 Amend S.B. No. 1050 by striking SECTION 2 of the bill
4-4 (engrossed version, page 1, lines 23-25 and page 2, lines 1-3) and
4-5 renumbering the remaining SECTIONS of the bill as appropriate.
4-6 77R16497 MCK-D Gray