The Texas
Human Resource Code, Section 42.041(b) (14) established requirements to exempt
recreational programs operated by municipalities for elementary age (5-13)
children from State child care licensing.
In order
to receive exempt status for camp programs, a municipality must adopt standards
of care by ordinance after a public hearing is held, then make available a copy
of program standards, a notice of the public hearing for the program and a copy
of the ordinance adopting the standards to the State. Standards are provided to
parents of each camp program participant.
The
ordinance shall include at a minimum, staffing ratios, minimum staff
qualifications, minimum facility, health, and safety standards, and mechanisms
for monitoring and enforcing the adopted local standards; and inform parents
that the camp program is not licensed by the state and the program may not be
advertised as a child-care facility.