Connecticut House Bill HB06574

Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/23
• Refer: 1/31/23

Caption

An Act Concerning Municipal Youth Camps.

Impact

With the enactment of HB 06574, the definition of a 'youth camp' is expanded to include programs that accommodate five or more children aged three to under sixteen years and that operate during school vacations or weekends. The legislation draws a distinction between different types of camps, such as resident and day camps, and outlines specific criteria for what constitutes these categories. Notable is the emphasis on child safety and health requirements, providing a regulatory framework that could enhance the protection of children participating in these camps.

Summary

House Bill 06574 addresses the regulation and licensing of municipal youth camps by amending Section 19a-420 of the general statutes. The proposed legislation aims to ensure that specific programs and activities which are advertised or operated by municipal departments are formally licensed as youth camps by the Office of Early Childhood. This effort reflects a growing recognition of the need for standardization and oversight in the operation of youth camps, considering that these settings accommodate children who engage in recreational and educational activities away from home.

Contention

A point of contention surrounding HB 06574 lies in how these licensing requirements may affect existing municipal programs. While proponents argue that licensing will improve standards of care and safety for children, critics may raise concerns about the burden this may place on smaller, community-run programs that may not have the resources to comply with extensive licensing mandates. Additionally, there may be discussions about the potential impact of these regulations on program availability and the local municipalities' ability to run various programs tailored to their community needs.