Organized camps.

Existing law requires the State Public Health Officer to establish rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for organized camps, and regulating the operation of organized camps that the director determines are necessary to protect the health and safety of the campers. Existing law establishes minimum standards for the operation, regulation, and enforcement of organized camps, as defined. This bill would recast those provisions and instead define an "organized camp," an "organized resident camp," and an "organized day camp," as specified. The bill would require an organized camp to register annually with the local public health officer, and provide the local public health officer with its written operating plan, or written verification that the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association at least 60 days prior to operation of the camp. The bill would provide that failure to comply with these provisions is a misdemeanor. The bill would authorize the local health officer to assess related review and investigation fees. This bill would prohibit an organized camp from employing or accepting the volunteer services of any person unless he or she has had a fingerprint-based criminal offender record information background check, as specified. The bill would provide that failure to comply with these provisions is a misdemeanor. Because this bill would impose additional requirements upon local public health officers and cities and counties, and because the bill would create new crimes, it would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the department, in adopting or amending the rules and regulations pertaining to organized camps, to make reasonable efforts to obtain the input and advice of prescribed organizations. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.