A new bill aimed at making Texas youth camps safer and reducing the influence of camp owners on state policies is moving forward in the Legislature. The bill, House Bill 265, was introduced by state Rep. Lacey Hull after recent changes were made to emergency preparedness rules following a tragic flood that killed 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic.
Right now, the 375 youth camps licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) can fix health code violations during their inspections without facing penalties. Hull’s bill would change that by not allowing camps to correct problems immediately. This means serious or repeated issues could lead to fines and penalties, helping to ensure camps follow safety rules more strictly.
The bill also targets the makeup of the DSHS Youth Camp Advisory Committee. Currently, camp operators can hold up to seven of the nine available positions, giving the industry a strong voice in how rules are shaped. Hull’s proposal would lower that number to two, balancing the group by including members from the general public and experts like law enforcement officials, medical professionals, child psychologists, child abuse prevention specialists, parents, and emergency management coordinators.
Hull told lawmakers the change would give DSHS more power to enforce rules without limits on fines for camps that fail to protect children. The push for this bill follows a report that revealed much of the committee is filled with representatives from large camp companies, who can influence policy to benefit their own interests.
One supporter of the bill, Kori DelaPeña from Jonestown, spoke about her daughter’s death at a day camp in 2018. She said camp owners have worked to keep themselves exempt from tougher safety laws, including water safety rules that could save lives.
“When a camp chooses to accept a responsibility, it must also accept the responsibility of keeping children safe,” DelaPeña said during a recent hearing.
The bill passed unanimously in the House Public Health Committee and now heads to the full House for consideration. If it becomes law, it could bring stronger protections to youth camps and reduce the risk of future tragedies.