1-1 By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 1050
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 2, 2001; March 5, 2001, read
1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services;
1-4 March 19, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
1-5 Nays 0; March 19, 2001, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the regulation of youth camps.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. Subdivisions (2) and (5), Section 141.002, Health
1-11 and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-12 (2) "Day camp" includes any camp that primarily
1-13 operates during any portion of the day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
1-14 for a period of four or more consecutive days but may incidentally
1-15 offer not more than two overnight stays each camp session. The
1-16 term does not include a facility required to be licensed with
1-17 [licensed as a child care facility by] the Department of Protective
1-18 and Regulatory Services.
1-19 (5) "Youth camp" means a facility or property, other
1-20 than a facility required to be licensed by the Department of
1-21 Protective and Regulatory Services, that:
1-22 (A) has the general characteristics of a day
1-23 camp, resident camp, or travel camp;
1-24 (B) is used primarily or partially for
1-25 recreational, athletic, religious, or educational activities; and
1-26 (C) accommodates at least five minors who attend
1-27 or temporarily reside at the camp for all or part of at least four
1-28 days.
1-29 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 141.005, Health and
1-30 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-31 (a) A person holding a license issued under this chapter
1-32 must renew the license annually by submitting a renewal application
1-33 on a date determined by board rule [not later than May 1 of each
1-34 year] on a form provided by the department.
1-35 SECTION 3. Section 141.009, Health and Safety Code, is
1-36 amended to read as follows:
1-37 Sec. 141.009. STANDARDS. The board by rule shall establish
1-38 health and safety standards for youth camps. The standards may
1-39 relate to:
1-40 (1) adequate and proper supervision at all times of
1-41 camp activities;
1-42 (2) qualifications for directors, supervisors, and
1-43 staff and sufficient numbers of those persons;
1-44 (3) proper safeguards for sanitation and public
1-45 health;
1-46 (4) adequate medical services for personal health and
1-47 first aid;
1-48 (5) proper procedures for food preparation, handling,
1-49 and mass feeding;
1-50 (6) healthful and sufficient water supply;
1-51 (7) proper waste disposal;
1-52 (8) proper water safety procedures for swimming pools,
1-53 lakes, and waterways;
1-54 (9) safe boating equipment;
1-55 (10) proper maintenance and safe use of motor
1-56 vehicles;
1-57 (11) safe buildings and physical facilities;
1-58 (12) proper fire precautions;
1-59 (13) safe and proper recreational and other equipment;
1-60 [and]
1-61 (14) proper regard for density and use of the
1-62 premises; and
1-63 (15) records of criminal convictions of camp
1-64 personnel.
2-1 SECTION 4. Subsection (c), Section 141.016, Health and
2-2 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
2-3 (c) The penalty may not exceed $2,000 [$100] a day for each
2-4 violation.
2-5 SECTION 5. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-6 (b) The change in law made by this Act to Section 141.016,
2-7 Health and Safety Code, applies only to a violation that occurs on
2-8 or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this
2-9 section, a violation occurs before the effective date of this Act
2-10 if any element of the violation occurs before that date.
2-11 (c) A violation that occurs before the effective date of
2-12 this Act is covered by the law in effect when the violation
2-13 occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that
2-14 purpose.
2-15 * * * * *