The Texas House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would tighten how youth camps are penalized for safety deficiencies and that would diminish the industry’s influence on a state advisory committee.

House Bill 265 , filed by state Rep. Lacey Hull , R-Houston, advanced to the Senate 128-3 late Thursday.

While Senate Bill 1 passed last week created a series of new emergency preparedness reforms for youth camps following the tragic flooding deaths of 27 Camp Mystic campers and counselors, HB 265 works to reduce the influence of camp owners.

Currently, when the 375 state youth camps now licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services are inspected each year, they are allowed to immediately correct any noted violations of state health code and avoid being penalized.

Hull s

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