Organized residential camps: organized day camps.
If enacted, AB 933 imposes that organized residential camps and organized day camps must comply with state building standards and health regulations as determined necessary by the State Public Health Officer and the State Fire Marshal. The bill mandates that local health officers enforce these building standards within their jurisdictions, thus creating a state-mandated local program that enforces compliance with safety and operational regulations. Additionally, violations of these standards can result in misdemeanor charges, therefore increasing the accountability of camp operators. This change is significant in providing a structured regulatory environment that aims to safeguard the health and safety of campers, particularly younger children attending these camps.
Assembly Bill 933, initiated by Assembly Member Vila Faras, focuses on the regulation of organized residential camps and introduces specific definitions and standards for organized day camps. The bill seeks to amend existing laws contained in the Health and Safety Code that outline the framework for the operation, regulation, and enforcement of these camps as it relates to camper safety and welfare. One of the key changes introduced by AB 933 is the renaming of organized camps to organized residential camps, alongside the introduction of the concept of organized day camps, defined as facilities that cater to groups of children with a set schedule and educational or recreational objectives. The bill notably establishes that organized day camps must provide programming for children aged 3 to 17, must operate for a minimum duration of three hours daily over five days, and must adhere to established health standards.
However, the bill does raise potential points of contention regarding increased regulatory oversight and the burden placed on local agencies. Critics may argue that imposing state-harmonized regulations could stifle the unique practices and needs of individual camps, particularly those designed for specialized or diverse populations. There is also a noted provision in the bill that states that certain costs mandated by the act to local agencies for implementation will not be reimbursed, which may raise concerns about the financial impact on local programs tasked with enforcing these new regulations.