California Bill Regulating Children’s Camps Further Amended; Hearing Scheduled
A.B.1737, a bill which would expand the definition of camps in California, has been further amended in the Senate.
The newest version of the proposal has whittled the bill down to a mandate that the Department of Social Services go through a stakeholder process with other agencies and key external stakeholders to create a “master plan” for children's camp safety. The purpose of the “master plan” is to serve as a blueprint for state government, local government, and the private sector to implement strategies and partnerships that promote health and safety in children’s camps across California.
Gone from the proposal are requirements for background checks, training in child abuse identification and making camp staff mandatory reporters of child abuse.
The bill is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, August 1st, the Committee on Appropriations will hold a hearing on the measure. To submit testimony for this hearing you can do so through the Committee’s letter portal.
The amended bill still proposes to change the terminology used in California law from “organized camp” to “children’s camp”. The new definition for “children’s camp” would expand the definition of camps.
“Children’s camps” are defined in the bill as: a camp that offers daytime or overnight experiences administered by professional adults who provide social, cultural, educational, recreational, or artistic programming to more than 5 children between 3 and 17 years of age for 5 days or longer during at least one season (youth sports leagues and teams, and camps owned or operated by local education agencies are exempt from this definition).
If you have questions about this or other legislative issues affecting the health club industry in California, please contact Jeff Perkins, IHRSA’s vice president of government relations
