The Youth Camp Alert, Mitigation, Preparedness, and Emergency Response (Youth CAMPER) Act aims to enhance the safety and emergency preparedness of resident youth camps in Texas. The bill introduces a new section, 141.0091, to the Health and Safety Code, which mandates that resident youth camp operators develop and implement a comprehensive written emergency plan. This plan must address various emergency scenarios, including natural disasters, lost campers, and medical emergencies, and must be reviewed and updated annually. Additionally, camp operators are required to designate an emergency preparedness supervisor, provide training to staff and volunteers, and make the emergency plan accessible to campers and their guardians.

The bill also establishes a civil penalty for non-compliance, allowing the attorney general to impose fines of up to $1,000 for each violation, with each day of continued violation counting as a separate offense. The collected penalties will be used to offset the costs incurred by the department in administering these regulations. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is tasked with adopting the necessary rules by March 1, 2026, although camp operators are not required to submit their emergency plans until May 1, 2026. The act will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on the 91st day after the legislative session if such a vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()