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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to emergency preparedness and safety requirements for |
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youth camps. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 141.009, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 141.009. STANDARDS. The executive commissioner by |
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rule shall establish health and safety standards for youth camps. |
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The standards may relate to: |
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(1) adequate and proper supervision at all times of |
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camp activities; |
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(2) qualifications for directors, supervisors, and |
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staff and sufficient numbers of those persons; |
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(3) proper safeguards for sanitation and public |
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health; |
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(4) adequate medical services for personal health and |
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first aid; |
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(5) proper procedures for food preparation, handling, |
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and mass feeding; |
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(6) healthful and sufficient water supply; |
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(7) proper waste disposal; |
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(8) proper water safety procedures for swimming pools, |
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lakes, and waterways; |
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(9) safe boating equipment; |
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(10) proper maintenance and safe use of motor |
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vehicles; |
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(11) safe buildings and physical facilities; |
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(12) proper fire and flood precautions; |
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(13) safe and proper recreational and other equipment; |
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(14) proper regard for density and use of the |
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premises; and |
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(15) records of criminal convictions of camp |
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personnel. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 141, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Sections 141.0091 and 141.0092 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 141.0091. EMERGENCY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. (a) The |
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department may not issue or renew a license for a youth camp under |
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this chapter unless the youth camp operator provides to the |
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department documentation showing the camp: |
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(1) does not provide overnight accommodations in a |
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camp facility located within a flood plain; |
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(2) maintains personal flotation devices in each camp |
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facility in which the camp provides overnight accommodations and |
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that is located near a flood-prone area or waterway; |
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(3) maintains operable radios capable of providing |
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real-time weather alerts in each camp facility in which the camp |
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provides overnight accommodations; |
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(4) installs and maintains an emergency warning system |
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at the camp that: |
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(A) is capable of alerting all campers and camp |
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occupants of a flood, fire, or other imminent emergency or hazard; |
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(B) integrates with: |
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(i) the National Weather Service or a |
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similar professional weather service; |
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(ii) local emergency notification systems; |
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and |
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(iii) local river authorities; |
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(C) includes a public address system operable |
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without reliance on an Internet connection; |
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(D) is capable of being manually triggered by |
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camp staff; and |
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(E) complies with all applicable requirements |
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for an emergency warning system established by department rules or |
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other law; |
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(5) adopts a written emergency preparedness plan |
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detailing: |
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(A) evacuation and transportation procedures; |
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(B) muster points; |
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(C) the location and proper use of available |
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emergency equipment, including: |
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(i) items for extinguishing fires; |
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(ii) beacons; |
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(iii) flotation devices; and |
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(iv) any other emergency equipment required |
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by department rules; |
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(D) protocols for notifying local emergency |
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medical services providers; |
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(E) information and procedures regarding the |
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camp's emergency warning system; and |
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(F) active shooter response protocols; |
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(6) provides the emergency preparedness plan |
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described by Subdivision (5) to and obtains approval from the local |
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agency responsible for providing emergency response services for |
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the camp; |
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(7) adopts a written policy to provide a weekly |
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notification to the local agency described by Subdivision (6) of |
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the number of campers and other occupants present at the camp for |
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that week; |
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(8) designates an emergency preparedness supervisor |
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as required by Section 141.0092; |
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(9) adopts a written policy to provide to each camper |
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and each camper's parent or legal guardian a digital or physical |
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copy of the camp's emergency preparedness plan before each camp |
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session begins; and |
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(10) conducts: |
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(A) not less than three evacuation drills each |
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calendar year; |
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(B) appropriate safety drills during each camp |
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session; and |
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(C) any other emergency or safety drill required |
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by department rules or other law. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement this section. |
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Sec. 141.0092. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SUPERVISOR. (a) A |
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youth camp operator shall designate a staff member as the emergency |
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preparedness supervisor for each camp session. |
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(b) The designated emergency preparedness supervisor is |
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responsible for implementing and providing oversight of the camp's |
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emergency preparedness plan. The supervisor shall: |
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(1) conduct required emergency training and drills at |
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the camp; |
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(2) maintain the camp's emergency equipment; and |
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(3) ensure the camp is in compliance with Section |
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141.0091 and rules adopted under that section. |
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(c) The executive commissioner may adopt rules prescribing |
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qualifications and training required for an individual to be a |
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youth camp's emergency preparedness supervisor. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as possible after the effective date of |
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this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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Section 141.009, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, and |
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Sections 141.0091 and 141.0092, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |