Source: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB955
Timestamp: 2020-08-12 13:30:24
Document Index: 177143233

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2']

Bill Text - SB-955 Recreational and organizational camps.
SB-955 Recreational and organizational camps.(2019-2020)
SB955:v99#DOCUMENT
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Maienschein)
An act to amend Sections 18897.1, 18897.2, 18897.3, 18897.4, 18897.6, 18897.7, and 113948 of, to add the headings of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 18897) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18897.2) to Part 2.4 of Division 13 of, to add Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 18897.10), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18897.20), Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 18897.30), Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 18897.45), and Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 18897.50) to Part 2.4 of Division 13 of, and to repeal and add Section 18897 of, the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code, relating to public health.
SB 955, as introduced, Portantino. Recreational and organizational camps.
Existing law requires the State Public Health Officer to establish rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for organized camps. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt minimum fire safety regulations for organized camps. Existing law requires local health officers to enforce building standards relating to organized camps and the other rules and regulations adopted by the State Public Health Officer. Existing law defines “organized camp,” for these purposes, as a site with a program and facilities established for the primary purposes of providing an outdoor group living experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives, for 5 days or more during one or more seasons of the year, except as specified.
This bill would additionally define “recreational camp” as a camp that operates for profit or nonprofit purposes, serves 5 or more children, and operates for at least 5 days during any season. The bill would exempt a licensed daycare facility from the definition of recreational camp.
This bill would require an organized camp and a recreational camp to obtain a license from the local agency of the jurisdiction where the camp is located before operating a camp. The bill would establish a procedure for a camp to submit an application to a local agency for a license and would authorize a local agency to charge an application fee in a specified amount. The bill would require the local agency to inspect a camp for compliance with these provisions before issuing a license to operate.
This bill would additionally require the State Public Health Officer to adopt rules and regulations governing the operation of recreational camps. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to adopt minimum fire safety regulations for recreational camps. The bill would require local health officers to enforce building standards and the other rules and regulations adopted by the State Public Health Officer relating to recreational camps, in addition to organized camps. The bill would require each local agency to report to the State Department of Public Health whether each camp within its jurisdiction complies with the licensing and operational requirements established in the bill. By requiring local agencies to enforce these building standards and other regulations, the bill imposes a state-mandated local program.
This bill would establish the Recreational Camp Safety Advisory Council within the state government to advise and consult on policy matters relating to recreational camps, as specified.
This bill would require each recreational camp to employ a camp director that meets specified requirements and a health director that meets specified requirements. The bill would impose various age and training requirements on camp counselors, junior counselors, and other staff and volunteers. The bill would require each camp operator to review the criminal background of each camp staff member and volunteer. The bill would require each recreational camp to develop an emergency action plan and require each counselor and member of camp staff to be trained in the procedures of the plan. The bill would require each camp to comply with a specified counselor-to-camper ratio, depending on the age of the campers and the specific activities provided. The bill would require the health director to develop a health care policy for the camp that addresses various camp procedures, including daily health supervision, medication storage and administration, and the provision of medical, nursing, and first aid services.
This bill would impose specified requirements on specific camp activities including, among others, riflery, archery, horseback riding, climbing, swimming, and scuba diving. The bill would require each camp to obtain specified certifications before offering high-risk activities.
This bill would authorize a local agency to levy a civil penalty on each camp that fails to comply with the requirements of the bill, in an amount not to exceed $200 per day until the local agency finds the camp is in compliance.
The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act requires a mandated reporter, which includes an administrator of a public or private day camp, to report whenever the mandated reporter, in a professional capacity or within the scope of employment, has knowledge of or has observed a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. Failure by a mandated reporter to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect is a misdemeanor.
This bill would designate a recreational camp operator, camp director, or other staff of a recreational camp licensed pursuant to these provisions as a mandated reporter. By expanding the scope of a crime and requiring local officials to receive additional reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(a)“Organized camp” means a site with program and facilities established for the primary purposes of providing an outdoor group living experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives, for five days or more during one or more seasons of the year.
(b)The term “organized camp” does not include a motel, tourist camp, trailer park, resort, hunting camp, auto court, labor camp, penal or correctional camp and does not include a child care institution or home-finding agency.
(c)The term “organized camp” also does not include any charitable or recreational organization that complies with the rules and regulations for recreational trailer parks.
(d) “Camper” means any person in an organized camp attending a camp on a fee or nonfee basis who is a participant in the regular program and training of an organized camp, and who may take on duties relating to such program and training. basis.
(4) Is not licensed by the State California Department of Social Services as a daycare facility.
(a) Except as provided in Section 18930, the Director of Public Health director shall adopt, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, rules and regulations establishing additional minimum standards for organized camps and regulating the operation of organized camps that the director determines are necessary to protect the health and safety of the campers. Organized camps Camps also shall comply with the building standards of the jurisdiction in which the camp it is located, to the extent that those standards are not contrary to, or inconsistent with, the building standards adopted by the Director of Public Health. director. The Director of Public Health director shall adopt and submit building standards for approval pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5 for the purposes described in this section. The State Department of Public Health Each local agency shall enforce building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to organized camps and such other rules and regulations adopted by such the director pursuant to the provisions of this section as the director determines are necessary to protect the health and safety of campers. In adopting building standards for approval pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5 and in adopting such other rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Director of Public Health shall consider the Camp Standards of the American Camping Association.
No organized camp shall A camp shall not be operated in this state unless each site or location in which the camp operates satisfies the minimum standards for organized camps prescribed in building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to organized camps, and in other rules and regulations adopted by the Director of Public Health director and the State Fire Marshal. Any violation of this section or of any building standard published in the State Building Standards Code relating to organized camps or any other rule or regulation adopted pursuant to Section 18897.2 or 18897.3 in the operation of organized camps is a misdemeanor.
The camp director, health director, aquatics director, all lifeguards and all counselors shall possess current CPR certifications and first aid certifications.
(a) (1) before allowing any recreational camper to engage in aquatics activities, the aquatics director shall conduct a swimming assessment of each camper, based on Red Cross, YMCA, or other swim proficiency tests approved by the department.
(5) Any camper that has not passed a Red Cross Level 3, YMCA Minnow swim proficiency test, or other equivalent classification as approved by the department shall be deemed a nonswimmer.
(2) Require that nonswimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices at all times while engaged in aquatics activities other than swim lessons under the immediate supervision of a lifeguard or aquatics director.
(6) A camp operator, camp director, or other staff of a camp licensed pursuant to Roxie Rules (Part 2.4 (commencing with Section 18897) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code.), or any other administrator of a public or private day camp.