Bill > S945

This bill establishes a comprehensive Youth Camp Permitting and Safety Program, requiring youth camps to obtain an annual permit from the Department of Health and Human Services, with specific regulations concerning cabins located in floodplains, which are generally prohibited unless certain exceptions are met, such as the cabin being at least 1,000 feet from a floodway or near a dammed body of water, and requiring emergency ladders for any floodplain cabins. It mandates that all youth camps develop and implement detailed emergency plans covering various scenarios like lost campers, severe weather, and medical emergencies, and ensure they have adequate warning and communication systems, including radios for weather alerts and camp-wide warning methods. The bill also sets minimum safety requirements for campgrounds, including emergency ladders for floodplain cabins and the development of emergency plans, and establishes a Youth Camp Safety Multidisciplinary Team to advise on safety matters. Additionally, it outlines a fee structure for permits, with funds supporting the program, and allows for administrative penalties for violations, while also coordinating with existing building and fire codes and other health and safety regulations to avoid duplication.