2026 -- H 8091

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF YOUTH CAMPS

     Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, McEntee, and O'Brien

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Dept. of Human Services)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 23-21.2-2, 23-21.2-3 and 23-21.2-4 of the General Laws in Chapter

23-21.2 entitled "Licensing of Youth Camps" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-21.2-2. Requirements for licensing of youth camps.

     (a) To be eligible for the issuance or renewal of a youth camp license, the camp shall satisfy

the following requirements:

     (1) The location of the camp shall be such as to provide adequate potable water and afford

facilities for obtaining readily available potable water;

     (2) Each dwelling unit, building, and structure shall be maintained in good condition,

suitable for the use to which it is intended, and shall present no health or fire hazard as so certified

by the department of health and the state fire marshal or local fire marshal, and if required, as

indicated by a current fire marshal certificate dated within the past year and available on site when

the youth camp is in operation;

     (3) There shall be an adequate and competent staff consisting of:

     (i) The youth camp director or assistant director, one of whom shall be on site at all times

the camp is in operation;

     (ii) Activities specialists;

     (iii) Counselors; and

     (iv) Maintenance personnel;

     (4) Each camp staff member over the age of eighteen (18) years shall be required to obtain

a criminal records background check from the bureau of criminal identification and investigation

division of the state police, local police department, or the office of the attorney general in

accordance with the procedures and standards provided in § 40-13.2-5.1;

     (5) All youth camp staff shall be trained, at a minimum, on the camp’s policies and

procedures pertaining to behavioral management and supervision, emergency health and safety

procedures and recognizing, preventing, and reporting child abuse and neglect in accordance with

§ 40-11-3;

     (6) All hazardous activities, including, but not limited to, archery, aquatics, horseback

riding, and firearms instruction, shall be supervised by a qualified activities specialist who has

adequate experience and training in such area of specialty;

     (7) The staff of a residential and day camp shall at all times include an individual trained

in the administration of first aid as required by the director;

     (8) Records of personal data for each camper shall be kept in any reasonable form. The

form shall include:

     (i) The camper’s name, age, and address;

     (ii) The name, address, and telephone number of the parents or guardian;

     (iii) The dates of admission and discharge; and

     (iv) Such other information as required by the department; and

     (9) Any youth camp licensed under this chapter shall operate only as the type of camp

authorized by such license. Such camps shall not advertise any service they are not equipped or

licensed to offer. The license shall be posted in a conspicuous place at youth camp headquarters

and failure to so post the license shall result in the presumption that the camp is being operated in

violation of this chapter.

     (b) The requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply until January 1, 2027.

     23-21.2-3. Inspections of facilities.

     (a) The department shall inspect or cause to be inspected the facilities to be operated by an

applicant for an original license before the license shall be granted and shall annually thereafter

inspect or cause to be inspected the facilities of all licensees.

     (b) The inspection requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply until

January 1, 2027.

     23-21.2-4. Rules and regulations.

     The department shall promulgate rules and regulations deemed necessary to implement the

purposes of this chapter. Any rules and regulations adopted to implement §§ 22-21.2-2(a) and 23-

21.2-3(a) shall not take effect until January 1, 2027.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF YOUTH CAMPS

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     This act would align the implementation date of youth camp licensing within the

operational, and statutory framework of the Rhode Island department of human services and

department of children, youth and families.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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