BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
SB 443 (Walters) - Organized camps.
Amended: April 16, 2013 Policy Vote: Health 9-0
Urgency: No Mandate: Yes
Hearing Date: April 29, 2013
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: SB 443 would revise the definitions and regulatory
requirements relating to organized camps.
Fiscal Impact:
One-time costs of about $130,000 for the adoption of
regulations by the Department of Public Health (General
Fund).
Unknown ongoing costs for enforcement by local public
health officers (local funds). Because local health officers
have the statutory authority to levy fees, this bill does
not impose a reimbursable state mandate.
Background: Current law defines an organized camp as a site with
programs and facilities established for the purpose of providing
outdoor experiences for five days or more. Current law requires
the Department of Public Health to adopt regulations necessary
to protect the health and safety of campers.
Under current law, the regulatory requirements on organized
camps are enforced by local health officers.
Proposed Law: SB 443 would revise the definitions and regulatory
requirements relating to organized camps.
Specifically, the bill would:
Distinguish between organized resident camps and organized
day camps and define those terms in statute;
Require operators of either type of camp to develop a
written operating plan and file that plan with the local
health officer;
Permit a local health officer to inspect an organized camp;
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Authorize local health officers to recover their costs
through fees;
Enact other requirements to protect the health and safety
of campers.
Related Legislation:
SB 1087 (Walters, Statutes of 2012) doubles the hours
certain after school programs may operate.
SB 737 (Walters, 2011) was substantially similar to this
bill. That bill was vetoed by Governor Brown.