89S10449 MCF-D
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 49
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to youth camp emergency operations plans, including camp
  staff and volunteer training and camper safety drills.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 141, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Section 141.0091 to read as follows:
         Sec. 141.0091.  EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN; CAMP STAFF AND
  VOLUNTEER TRAINING; CAMPER SAFETY DRILLS.  (a)  A youth camp
  operator shall:
               (1)  develop and implement a written emergency
  operations plan with procedures for responding to an emergency
  event, including a weather or other disaster, serious accident,
  epidemic, or fatality; and
               (2)  annually review and as necessary update the plan.
         (b)  The emergency operations plan must include specific
  procedures for campers, camp staff, and camp volunteers to follow
  in an emergency event, including procedures for emergency shelter
  in or evacuation from camp buildings and the camp.  The department
  may prescribe additional procedures to be addressed in the plan.
         (c)  A youth camp operator shall conspicuously post the
  camp's emergency operations plan in:
               (1)  the camp's on-site administrative building; and
               (2)  each building occupied or used by campers, camp
  staff, or camp volunteers.
         (d)  Before the beginning of each camp session, a youth camp
  operator shall:
               (1)  provide to each camp staff member or volunteer
  comprehensive training on the camp's emergency operations plan,
  that:
                     (A)  covers each procedure included in the plan
  and the location of any emergency or lifesaving equipment; and
                     (B)  includes plan implementation exercises and
  emergency management skills; and
               (2)  assign to each camp staff member or volunteer
  specific responsibilities for implementing the plan.
         (e)  As soon as practicable but not later than 48 hours after
  the beginning of each camp session, youth camp staff shall conduct
  an age-appropriate emergency drill to ensure campers are familiar
  with evacuation routes and other procedures included in the camp's
  emergency operations plan and the location and appropriate use of
  any emergency or lifesaving equipment.
         (f)  A youth camp shall maintain in the camp's on-site
  administrative office records documenting the successful
  completion by each camp staff member, volunteer, and camper of the
  training and emergency drills required by Subsections (d) and (e).
         (g)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
  to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.