Senate committee backs licensing for wilderness, outdoor youth programs after public testimony

A Senate committee on (date not specified in the transcript) approved a committee substitute for Senate Bill 817 to require licensure for residential programs tied to wilderness or outdoor experiences, expedition or intervention, boot-camp–style programs and therapeutic boarding schools that serve youth. Committee counsel summarized the bill and the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report it to the full Senate, with the original double-reference directing it next to Judiciary.

The measure, as explained by committee counsel, would require programs of this type to obtain an annual license from the Office of Inspector General through the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification, and would require legislative rulemaking to set minimum standards. “The bill requires licensure for a program in a residential environment that is associated with a wilderness or outdoor experience, expedition or intervention, a boot camp experience or other experience designed to stimulate characteristics of basic military training or correctional regimes, or an education or therapeutic boarding school,” counsel said during opening remarks.

Why it…