Bill > HB174

This bill enhances emergency preparedness and safety requirements for youth camps in Texas by establishing comprehensive new regulations. The legislation requires youth camps to meet several critical safety standards, including prohibiting overnight accommodations in flood plains, maintaining personal flotation devices and emergency radios, and installing a robust emergency warning system that integrates with the National Weather Service and local emergency notification systems. Camps must develop detailed written emergency preparedness plans covering evacuation procedures, muster points, emergency equipment locations, medical service notifications, and active shooter response protocols. Each camp must designate an emergency preparedness supervisor responsible for implementing safety measures, conducting at least three evacuation drills annually, and ensuring compliance with the new regulations. Additionally, camps must provide their emergency preparedness plan to local emergency response agencies, notify those agencies weekly about the number of campers present, and distribute the emergency plan to campers and their parents before each camp session. The bill amends the existing Health and Safety Code to incorporate these new requirements, with the Texas executive commissioner tasked with adopting specific implementation rules, and the new provisions will take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=891&Bill=HB174