The bill, H.B. No. 174, aims to enhance emergency preparedness and safety requirements for youth camps in Texas by amending the Health and Safety Code. It introduces new standards that the executive commissioner must establish, including the addition of fire and flood precautions to the existing health and safety standards. Furthermore, the bill mandates that youth camp operators must provide documentation to the department to obtain or renew their licenses, ensuring that camps do not operate in flood plains, maintain personal flotation devices, and have operable radios for real-time weather alerts, among other requirements. Additionally, the bill establishes two new sections, 141.0091 and 141.0092, which outline specific emergency safety requirements and designate a staff member as the emergency preparedness supervisor for each camp session. The supervisor is responsible for implementing the camp's emergency preparedness plan, conducting training and drills, and ensuring compliance with the new regulations. The bill emphasizes the importance of having a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan that includes evacuation procedures, emergency equipment protocols, and communication with local emergency services. The executive commissioner is tasked with adopting necessary rules to implement these provisions, and the act will take effect 91 days after the legislative session concludes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 141.009 (Health and Safety Code 141)