YOUTH CAMP SAFETY ACT WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1974 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 9 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 2175, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Dominick V. Daniels (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Daniels, Gaydos, Esch, Forsythe, Sarasin, and Peyser. Staff members present: Daniel H. Krivit, subcommittee counsel; Alexandria J. Kisla, clerk; Denny Medlin, legislative assistant, and Yvonne Franklin, minority legislative associate. Mr. DANIELS. The Select Subcommittee on Labor will come to order. We are here this morning to consider H.R. 1486 and related bills to protect youths attending resident, day, and travel camps, by establishing Federal standards to provide Federal assistance to the States to develop their own programs. [Text of H.R. 1486 follows:] (1) 93D CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1486 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 9, 1973 Mr. DOMINICK V. DANIELS (for himself and Mr. PEYSER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To provide for the development and implementation of programs for youth camp safety. 1 2 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That this Act may be cited as the "Youth Camp Safety Act". 5 SEC. 2. It is the purpose of this Act to protect and safe6 guard the health and well being of the youth of the Nation 7 attending day camps, resident camps, and travel camps, by 8 providing for establishment of Federal standards for safe 9 operation of youth camps, to provide Federal assistance to 10 the States in developing programs for implementing safety 11 standards for youth camps, to provide for the Federal im 1 plementation of safety standards for youth camps in States 2 which do not implement such standards and for Federal 3 recreational camps, thereby providing assurance to parents 4 and interested citizens that youth camps and Federal recrea5 tional camps meet minimum safety standards. (1) The term "youth camp" means (A) any parcel or parcels of land having the general characteristics and features of a camp as the term is generally understood, used wholly or in part for recreational or educational purposes and accommodating five or more children under 18 years of age, living apart from their relatives, parents, or legal guardians for a period of, or portions of, 5 days or more, and includes a site that is operated as a day camp or as a resident camp; and (B) any travel camp which sponsors or conducts group tours within the United States, or foreign group tours originating or terminating within a State, for educational or recreational purposes, accommodating within the group five or more children under 18 years of age, living apart from their relatives, parents, or legal guardians for a period of 5 days or more. (2) The term "youth camp safety standards" means 1 criteria directed toward safe operations of youth camps, in 2 3 such areas as-but not limited to-personnel qualifications for director and staff; ratio of staff to campers; sanitation and 4 public health; personal health, first aid, and medical services; 5 food handling, mass feeding, and cleanliness; water supply 6 and waste disposal; water safety, including use of lakes and 7 rivers, swimming and boating equipment and practices; vehi 8 cle condition and operation; building and site design; equip9 ment; and condition and density of use. 10 11 12 (3) The term "youth camp operator" means any pri vate agency, organization, or person, and any individual, who operates, controls, or supervises a youth camp, whether 13 such camp is operated for profit or not for profit. 14 (4) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of 15 Health, Education, and Welfare. 16 17 (5) The term "State" includes each of the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin 18 Islands. 20 SEC. 4. Each youth camp operator shall provide to each 21 222 camper safe and healthful conditions, facilities, and equip ment which are free from recognized hazards that are caus 23 ing, or are likely to cause, death, serious illness, or serious 24 physical harm, as well as adequate and qualified instruction 1 and supervision at all times, wherever or however such 2 camp activities are conducted and with due consideration of 3 conditions existing in nature. 4 5 PROMULGATION OF YOUTH CAMP SAFETY STANDARDS SEC. 5. The Secretary shall develop, and shall by rule 6 promulgate, modify, or revoke youth camp safety standards. 7 In developing such standards, the Secretary shall consult with 8 State officials and with representatives of appropriate public 9 and private organizations, and shall consider existing State 10 regulations and standards and standards developed by private 11 organizations which are applicable to youth camp safety. 12 The Secretary shall make the initial promulgation of stand13 ards required by this section within 1 year after the effective 14 date of this Act. 15 16 STATE JURISDICTION AND STATE PLANS SEC. 6. (a) Any State which, at any time, desires to 17 assume responsibility for development and enforcement of 18 youth camp safety standards applicable to youth camps 19 therein (other than travel camps) shall submit a State plan 20 for the development of such standards and their enforcement. (b) The Secretary shall approve a plan submitted by a 21 22 State under subsection (a), or any modification thereof, if 23 such plan in his judgment— 24 (1) designates a State agency as the agency |