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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 Section 141.0091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 141.0091. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY |
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REQUIREMENTS. (a) The department may not issue or renew a license |
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for a youth camp under this chapter unless the youth camp operator |
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provides to the department documentation showing the camp: |
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(1) maintains operable radios capable of providing |
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real-time weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service or |
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a similar professional weather service in each camp facility in |
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which the camp provides overnight accommodations; |
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(2) installs and maintains at the camp an emergency |
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warning system that: |
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(A) is capable of alerting all campers and camp |
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occupants of an emergency; and |
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(B) includes a public address system operable |
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without reliance on an Internet connection; |
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(3) monitors safety alerts issued: |
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(A) by the National Weather Service or a similar |
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professional weather service; and |
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(B) by local river authorities or through other |
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local emergency notification systems; |
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(4) 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 zones; and |
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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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(5) provides the emergency preparedness plan |
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described by Subdivision (4) 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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(6) provides a weekly notification to the local agency |
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described by Subdivision (5) of the number of campers and other |
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occupants present at the camp for that week; |
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(7) designates as an emergency preparedness |
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supervisor a staff member for the camp; and |
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(8) conducts appropriate safety drills during each |
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camp session. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement this section. |
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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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Section 141.0091, Health and Safety Code, as added by 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. |