H.B. 2350 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 2350
By: Dawson
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law for youth camp licensing, caps the amount that may be charged
by the Texas Department of  Health (TDH) for issuing a license and
conducting inspections of youth camps.  Residential youth camps are
charged $40 and day youth camps are charged $25.  Currently, the program
does not generate sufficient  fees to cover the operating costs.  House
Bill 2350 allows the Board of Health to set fees for Youth Camp licensees
in an amount that will reasonably cover the direct and indirect cost of
administering the program.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly
granted to the Texas Board of Health in SECTION 1 (Section 141.0035,
Health and Safety Code) and in SECTION 4  of this bill 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2350 amends the Health and Safety Code to allow the Texas Board
of Health to establish the fee for obtaining or renewing a license for a
Youth Camp.  The board may set fees in different amounts for resident
youth camps and day youth camps to reflect the different costs of
administering and enforcing licensing.  H.B. 2350 requires the Board of
Health to set both the license and license renewal fees.   

The board is required to adopt rules to implement the changes in law made
by this Act as soon as practicable.  Until the new rules take effect, the
Texas Department of Health will apply the current license and renewal fee
as defined under Section 141.004 or 141.005, Health and Safety Code. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.