The California Community Care Facilities Act generally provides for the licensing and regulation of community care facilities, including child day care facilities, by the State Department of Social Services (Department). Existing law also requires the State Public Health Officer to establish rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for organized camps, defined as a site with a program and facilities established for the primary purposes of providing an outdoor group living experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives, for five (5) days or more during one or more seasons of the year.
Assembly Bill 262 (AB 262), subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, will require the Department to prepare a report, in consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders, regarding approaches for children’s camp health and safety regulation and oversight. AB 262 will require the stakeholder group to be composed of representatives of designated state entities, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Public Health and the State Department of Education, and other stakeholders, such as parent advocate groups and local parks and health departments. The bill requires the Department, following consultation with the stakeholder group, and within 24 months after funds are appropriated, to submit its recommendations in a report to the Legislature. The report shall include recommendations regarding the definition of a children’s camp and minimum health and safety requirements for children’s camps.
(AB 262 adds Division 2.1, commencing with section 1796.90, to the Health and Safety Code.)