Youth Camp Emergency Plan Legislation Passes House
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, on Tuesday passed a bill in the House that would require all youth camps to conduct a site-specific hazard assessment prior to licensure or renewal and to develop an emergency action plan. The plan specified in House Bill 1675 must include response protocols for each severe weather hazard applicable to the site, evacuation routes and other items outlined in the measure. "We all watched in horror last year as a catastrophic flood took the lives of 25 young campers, two counselors and a director at a camp in Texas," Cantrell said. "In Oklahoma, we're all too aware of the threat of severe weather. Camp should be about making memories, having fun, enjoying some of the best days of your life. By having these site-specific emergency plans in place ahead of licensing, we give parents and all involved more peace of mind that campers will be taken care of in the event of severe weather. We all want camp to be the enjoyable and safe experience it's designed to be." Under the measure, youth camps would be required to maintain two independent methods of receiving severe weather alerts, an internal communication system, procedures for notifying guardians, and provide access to shelters. Potential threats of severe weather and emergency response procedures must be disclosed to all participants. Camp staff are required to receive annual emergency procedure and hazard recognition training and conduct periodic drills. A copy of the emergency action plan must be kept on file with the applicable local emergency management agency. Local emergency management agencies are authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement these provisions and can impose corrective action plans, civil penalties, and suspend or revoke licensure for material noncompliance. HB1675 advanced from the House on a vote of 91-2. It has been referred for engrossment to the State Senate where it is authored by Ally Seifried, R-Claremore.