AB 1964: Organized camps.

Existing law requires the State Public Health Officer to establish rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for organized camps, and regulations governing the operation of organized camps that he or she determines are necessary to protect the health and safety of the campers. Existing law establishes minimum standards for the operation, regulation, and enforcement of organized camps, as defined.

This bill would recast those provisions and instead require organized day camps to either be accredited by the American Camp Association or have a written description of operating procedures that describes the program of organized and supervised activities of the organized day camp and meets other specified requirements. The bill would define an organized camp to include an organized resident camp and an organized day camp, as specified, to be a program that provides activities that promote environmental awareness, well-being, and appreciation of the outdoors group experiences for children under 18 years of age or adults with activity limitations or participation restrictions. during the day, on days during school breaks, for a minimum of four hours per day on three or more consecutive days. The bill would exclude various programs and facilities from the definition of organized day camp for these purposes. The bill would require the included camps to issue a written notice of intent to operate, develop a written operating plan, and submit the plan, a local enforcement agency to issue an organized day camp a health and sanitation permit upon receipt of the written operating procedures or written verification that the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association, to the local enforcement agency at least 45 days prior to commencing operation of the camp. Association, and, in the case of a tier 1 camp, as defined, verification that an initial inspection of the premises was conducted. The bill would also require those camps to, among other things, meet the applicable requirements of regulations governing organized camps and store firearms in a locked storage cabinet when not in use, as specified. The bill would also require a tier 1 organized day camp, as defined, or an organized resident camp to obtain a permit, and certain tier 2 organized day camps to obtain a registration, to operate from the local enforcement agency and to post the permit or authorization, as specified. have adequate staff to carry out the program and keep a health history of every camper and staff member entering the organized day camp, as specified.

The bill would authorize the local enforcement agency to inspect the camp and charge fees for camp oversight activities. The bill would also authorize a person alleging health and sanitation violations to file a complaint with the local enforcement agency and require the local enforcement agency to investigate. The bill would also require the State Department of Public Health, in adopting or amending the rules and Health Officer to adopt regulations pertaining to organized day camps, and to make reasonable efforts to obtain the input and advice of prescribed organizations.

Because this bill would impose additional duties upon local enforcement agencies regarding the oversight of organized day camps, it would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.