AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11; Title 49; Title 68 and Title 70, relative to camps.
If enacted, SB1044 would amend legislation in Title 68, which pertains to health-related regulations concerning facilities and operations, including camps. The requirement for public disclosure of the permit fee schedule is intended to streamline the application process and mitigate confusion among camp operators. By placing this information in a centralized location (the Health Department's website), the bill could potentially improve compliance rates as camp operators will have clearer expectations regarding costs, thus aiding in maintaining better standards within the camp sector overall.
Senate Bill 1044, introduced by Senator Hensley, seeks to amend specific sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated relating to the regulation of organized camps. The main focus of this bill is to require the Tennessee Department of Health to publish the annual permit fee schedule for operating organized camps on its website. This is aimed at increasing transparency for those seeking permits, ensuring they have access to the necessary financial information upfront before applying for permits to operate camps within the state.
The general sentiment surrounding SB1044 appears to be neutral to positive, with proponents likely viewing it as a rational step toward greater accessibility of information for camp operators. There is an expectation that this increased transparency will foster a better operational environment for camps. However, the bill did not have unanimous support and faced some contention, as evidenced by its voting history where it was not passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, receiving a vote of 3 in favor and 2 against, indicating some resistance to the changes proposed.
The primary point of contention revolved around whether the publication of permit fees is sufficient to address the broader regulatory concerns faced by camp operators. Opponents may have questioned the relevance of merely posting fee schedules without tackling deeper regulatory burdens or issues that camps might encounter. The failure of SB1044 to advance from committee highlights the ongoing debate over the adequacy of state regulations and the role of transparency versus comprehensive regulatory reform in supporting the camp industry.