The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 372, seeks to amend Section 19a-421 of the Connecticut General Statutes regarding the licensing of youth camps. The bill stipulates that no individual or organization may establish, conduct, or maintain a youth camp without a license from the Office of Early Childhood, with specific fees outlined for different types of applicants. It mandates comprehensive background checks for prospective employees who will have unsupervised access to children, detailing the components of these checks and the conditions under which they may begin work provisionally. Additionally, it requires ongoing background checks for employees every five years and establishes the authority of the Commissioner of Early Childhood to refuse or revoke licenses based on certain criminal convictions.

A significant insertion in this bill is the provision allowing the Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol to establish, conduct, or maintain a youth camp without obtaining a license, provided they meet specific conditions, such as operating on state-owned property and adhering to established guidelines for youth camp management. This exemption is aimed at facilitating the operations of the Civil Air Patrol while ensuring compliance with safety standards. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and includes various provisions to enhance the safety and oversight of youth camps in Connecticut.