By: Craddick (Senate Sponsor - Perry) H.B. No. 492
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;
May 8, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
Human Services; May 17, 2017, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 17, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a waiver for certain programs from youth camp
licensing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 141, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 141.0025 to read as follows:
Sec. 141.0025. WAIVER; APPEAL. (a) The department may
grant a waiver from the requirements of this chapter to a program
that:
(1) is sponsored by a religious organization as
defined by Section 464.051;
(2) has been in operation for at least 30 consecutive
years;
(3) operates one camp for not more than seven days in
any year;
(4) has not more than 80 campers;
(5) is conducted by adult participants who are all
volunteers;
(6) operates in a county with a population of at least
4,400 but not more than 4,750; and
(7) ensures that background checks are conducted on
and the training required under Section 141.0095 is completed by
each adult participating in the program.
(b) A waiver granted by the department under Subsection (a)
is valid until the waiver is revoked for cause by the department.
(c) A person who operates a program for which an application
for a waiver under this section has been denied or for which a
waiver under this section has been revoked may appeal the action in
the manner provided for appeal of contested cases under Chapter
2001, Government Code.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
Section 141.0025, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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