By Van de Putte S.B. No. 1050
77R7724 MCK-F
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. Sections 141.002(2) and (5), Health and Safety
1-5 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. Section 141.005(a), Health and Safety Code, is
1-24 amended to read as follows:
2-1 (a) A person holding a license issued under this chapter
2-2 must renew the license annually by submitting a renewal application
2-3 on a date determined by board rule [not later than May 1 of each
2-4 year] on a form provided by the department.
2-5 SECTION 3. Section 141.009, Health and Safety Code, is
2-6 amended to read as follows:
2-7 Sec. 141.009. STANDARDS. The board by rule shall establish
2-8 health and safety standards for youth camps. The standards may
2-9 relate to:
2-10 (1) adequate and proper supervision at all times of
2-11 camp activities;
2-12 (2) qualifications for directors, supervisors, and
2-13 staff and sufficient numbers of those persons;
2-14 (3) proper safeguards for sanitation and public
2-15 health;
2-16 (4) adequate medical services for personal health and
2-17 first aid;
2-18 (5) proper procedures for food preparation, handling,
2-19 and mass feeding;
2-20 (6) healthful and sufficient water supply;
2-21 (7) proper waste disposal;
2-22 (8) proper water safety procedures for swimming pools,
2-23 lakes, and waterways;
2-24 (9) safe boating equipment;
2-25 (10) proper maintenance and safe use of motor
2-26 vehicles;
2-27 (11) safe buildings and physical facilities;
3-1 (12) proper fire precautions;
3-2 (13) safe and proper recreational and other equipment;
3-3 [and]
3-4 (14) proper regard for density and use of the
3-5 premises; and
3-6 (15) records of criminal convictions of camp
3-7 personnel.
3-8 SECTION 4. Section 141.016(c), Health and Safety Code, is
3-9 amended to read as follows:
3-10 (c) The penalty may not exceed $2,000 [$100] a day for each
3-11 violation.
3-12 SECTION 5. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-13 (b) The change in law made by this Act to Section 141.016,
3-14 Health and Safety Code, applies only to a violation that occurs on
3-15 or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this
3-16 section, a violation occurs before the effective date of this Act
3-17 if any element of the violation occurs before that date.
3-18 (c) A violation that occurs before the effective date of
3-19 this Act is covered by the law in effect when the violation
3-20 occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that
3-21 purpose.