Representative Katie Hall, the bill's author, told the House Committee on Public Health that House Bill 265 is focused on 'youth camp safety reform.' "This bill is focused on youth camp safety reform," she said as she opened the committee hearing.

The bill would restructure the youth camp advisory committee, change enforcement of inspection findings, and move several background-check and first‑aid requirements from rule into statute. "Youth camps are licensed and regulated by DSHS," Hall said, and her measure would "restructure this committee to include child health and safety experts who have more expertise in industry standards for these types of rules."

Why it matters: witnesses and lawmakers said Texas camp oversight has gaps that contributed to recent tragedies. Several parents and safety advocates told the committee that camps near open water lack consistent lifeguard standards, swim testing and emergency response protocols, and that the current advisory committee is dominated by camp operators.

What the bill would do and what supporters said

- Advisory committee makeup: The bill would redraw the Youth Camp Advisory Committee from a membership heavily weighted toward camp operators to a panel that includes emergency management, law enforcement, pediatric or pediatric‑care clinicians, child‑abuse prevention experts, a parent or guardian of a camper, public members and at least one camp operator. Representative Hall said the substitute she expects on the floor will also add a water‑safety expert and allow the pediatric slot to be filled by a pediatric nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

- Rule review and meetings: The bill directs the department that regulates camps to conduct a comprehensive review of youth camp rules before the next camp season and would codify the committee's meetings as subject to open‑meetings requirements, Hall said.

- Enforcement and fines: Hall said the measure would "remove the prohibition on issuing violations during inspections so that repeat grievous violations can be penalized and removes the statutory cap on fines so that these can be set by rule to address severe violations." She described the current rule that lets operators correct minor problems at the time of inspection as well intended but said it can hide serious repeated deficiencies.

- Background checks and training: The bill would codify background check requirements and add a statutory requirement for first‑aid and CPR training for staff; Hall described a floor change to make that requirement an hour of accredited first‑aid/CPR training rather than a specific outside certification to reduce cost barriers.

What witnesses said

Corey de la Pena, a water‑safety trainer and president of Live Like Kathy, testified in favor and urged adding a water‑safety advocate to the advisory panel. "This is why I strongly urge you to pass HB 265," he said, adding that the current advisory panel is largely composed of camp owners and can produce an 'echo chamber.'

Nicole Kristoff, chief operating officer of Crime Stoppers of Houston, told the committee that criminal complaints and abuse allegations were handled inside camps rather than by independent investigators in at least one prior case and urged stronger reporting and enforcement. "A camp received a fine that they didn't want to look bad. The fine was removed," she said, summarizing her group's 2019 review of a catalyst case.

Jennifer Poteet of Collins Hope and other water‑safety advocates pressed for life‑jacket rules and training; Poteet recommended an injury‑prevention or water‑safety specialist on the advisory committee.

Daniel Neal, a current member of the Youth Camp Advisory Committee and a summer‑camp director, described the committee's role in advising DSHS on inspections and rules and noted the practical limits of expanding membership and meeting frequency. He said roughly 374 camps are licensed under Chapter 141 and that other groups report higher counts because many organizations call themselves camps but do not meet the statutory definition.

Policy limits and agency role

Committee questioning clarified that several topics already are addressed in other bills or rules. Members asked whether evacuation and disaster plans were covered; Representative Hall replied that emergency planning and evacuation requirements are being addressed by HB 1 and SB 1 and that HB 265 focuses on 'other safety issues.

Timothy Stevenson, deputy commissioner with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), appeared as a neutral resource witness and described how advisory committee input is routed into rulemaking: DSHS posts draft rules, solicits comment, and reviews advisory‑committee recommendations in public meetings before adopting rules.

Formal action

After public testimony and the author's closing remarks, the committee chair reported the bill for further consideration. The bill was left pending at the committee's direction.

Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: Lawmakers and witnesses raised options including changing the statutory definition of "youth camp," adding a water‑safety specialist, codifying reporting requirements, and requiring life jackets or other protective equipment in waterfront cabins.

- Direction: Representative Hall said she expects a floor substitute that will add another camp operator, a water safety expert and broaden the pediatric slot to APRNs/PAs. DSHS said it would follow the statutory and administrative rulemaking process for any changes.

- Formal action: The committee left HB 265 pending for further consideration.

Key speakers

- Representative Katie Hall, bill author (House member)
- Chair Van Deaver, presiding (Committee chair)
- Vice Chair Campos (Committee vice chair)
- Representative Frank (Committee member)
- Representative Collier (Committee member)
- Corey de la Pena, water‑safety trainer, Texas Water Safety Coalition / Live Like Kathy (witness)
- Rania Mancarius, CEO, Scribe Stoppers of Houston (witness)
- Nicole Kristoff, COO, Crime Stoppers of Houston (witness)
- Jennifer Poteet, executive director, Collins Hope (resource witness)
- Daniel Neal, summer‑camp director and youth camp advisory committee member (witness)
- Timothy Stevenson, Deputy Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services (resource witness)

Authorities and statutory references (as cited at hearing)

- Chapter 141 (statute) ' Youth camp licensing and the Youth Camp Advisory Committee
- Section 141.0025 (statute) ' waiver provision referenced for repeal by Representative Hall
- HB 1 and SB 1 (related legislation) ' emergency‑and‑disaster planning for camps referenced by Representative Hall

Clarifying details (recorded in committee testimony)

- Current advisory committee composition: reported as 9 members; about 7 camp operators and 2 public members in current practice (testimony)
- Proposed committee additions: emergency management director/coordinator, law enforcement, pediatrician (or pediatric NP/PA), child psychologist, child abuse prevention expert, parent/guardian of a camper, two public members, at least one youth camp operator, and a water safety expert (as described by Representative Hall)
- Training change under consideration: statutory first aid/CPR requirement to be an hour of first‑aid/CPR training provided by an accredited training organization or licensed health‑care professional rather than a specific certification
- Enforcement: bill would permit issuance of violations during inspections and remove the statutory cap on fines so rules could set penalties for grievous or repeated violations
- Repeal: bill would repeal the statutory waiver in Section 141.0025 (DSHS reported that the waiver had never been used)

Proper names (from testimony)

- Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) (agency)
- Live Like Kathy (nonprofit)
- Texas Water Safety Coalition (organization)
- National Drowning Prevention Alliance (organization)
- Collins Hope (nonprofit)
- Crime Stoppers of Houston (organization)
- Youth Camp Advisory Committee (statutory advisory body)
- Kerr County (location referenced during testimony)

Searchable tags:["youth camps","camp safety","DSHS","advisory committee","background checks","CPR training","water safety","HB265","waiver repeal","Kerr County"]

Ending: The committee did not vote to advance HB 265; instead the measure was left pending after public testimony and a floor substitute was previewed by the author. If the bill is revised on the floor as the author described, it would add child‑safety and water‑safety expertise to the advisory process and remove statutory limits that currently restrict enforcement action during inspections.