Bill
HB 3142
Creates a state licensing and safety framework for overnight and residential camps for minors, emphasizing emergency planning, staff background checks, inspections, and standards a
HB 3142 Summary ( Missouri, 2026 Session)
Purpose and intent
- Establishes the TJ and Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act to regulate overnight and residential camps for minors.
- Creates a licensing regime and safety requirements equivalent to those applied to licensed child care facilities.
- Aims to improve emergency planning, staff training, background checks, and facility safety to protect campers.
Key provisions and changes
1) Definitions
- Overnight camp: program for minors that includes hours 9:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. but not two consecutive overnights.
- Residential camp: program that includes 9:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. for two or more sequential overnights.
- Other terms defined: camper, director (Department of Social Services), department, flood plain, floodway, minor, etc.
2) Licensing and licensure disclosures
- No person/organization may operate an overnight or residential camp for minors or advertise as providing camp services without a written license from the Department of Social Services (DSS).
- Camps must disclose licensure status to parents/guardians.
- Department may adopt rules related to supervision requirements and capacity.
3) Department powers and duties
- Issue licenses after inspection; license specifies effective date.
- Inspect camps and enforce compliance; may deny, suspend, place on probation, or revoke licenses.
- Promulgate rules establishing standards of service and care; set record-keeping requirements.
- May deny licensure if operation would be unsafe.
4) License renewals and alterations
- Licenses must be renewed annually.
- Renewal required within 30 days after: (a) boundaries altered; or (b) renovations to cabins that affect bed count or egress.
5) Compliance and enforcement
- Department may suspend or revoke licenses for noncompliance with subsection 10 (emergency planning) or department rules.
- Reinstatement requires compliance.
6) Staffing and safety requirements
- All camp staff members or volunteers 18+ must undergo criminal background checks.
- Each camp must have at least one staff member certified in CPR.
7) Camper-to-counselor ratios
- Department will review ratios and, by rule, establish minimum camper-to-counselor ratios for overnight stays (and applicable for day camps).
8) Complaint investigations
- Department must investigate complaints to ensure camps implement their approved emergency plan.
9) Emergency planning and preparedness (section 210.1700, subsection 10)
- Camps must comply with fire, safety, health, sanitation inspections (state/local).
- Operators must develop an emergency plan including:
- Muster zones for evacuation.
- Procedures for emergencies (lost camper, fire, serious injury/illness, unauthorized person, transportation emergency, epidemics, natural disasters, etc.).
- Procedures to identify/account for campers.
- Notification/communication procedures with law enforcement, on-site staff, and parents/guardians.
- Designation of an emergency preparedness coordinator.
- Requirements for emergency readiness:
- Operable radio for real-time weather alerts; emergency warning system; monitor safety alerts; certify compliance.
- Annually submit initial or updated emergency plan to the department for approval.
- If deficiencies are found, revise and resubmit within 45 days.
- Upon approval, provide copies to county emergency management director and local law enforcement.
- Plan stored in a digital database accessible to the state emergency management agency.
- Must provide the most recent plan to parents/guardians of participating or prospective campers; notify if any camp area lies within a flood plain; guardian must sign an acknowledgment.
- Within 48 hours after a camp session begins, conduct mandatory safety orientation for campers covering boundaries, behavior in emergencies, and plan-based actions.
- At least annually: provide staff/volunteers with the latest plan, ensure training on the plan, instruct on emergency procedures, and maintain training records.
- Post conspicuously in each cabin the proper evacuation route.
- Confidentiality: emergency plans accessed by certain agencies are confidential.
10) Violations and penalties
- False statements to obtain/renew licensure: Class C misdemeanor for first offense; subsequent offenses become Class A misdemeanor with escalating fines (up to $2,000 per day; max $10,000 for subsequent offenses).
- Hearing rights: notice and a 30-day window to request a hearing; if requested, action filed with Administrative Hearing Commission within 90 days.
- Department may issue non-hearing letters of censure; may place on probation; may suspend license with a fast-track appeal process.
- Prosecuting attorney may seek injunctions for noncompliant camps; department may seek state-level injunctions if local action is inadequate.
11) Exemption
- Does not apply to camps offered by institutions of higher education in Missouri.
12) Rules and nonseverability
- Department to promulgate rules; rules must conform to state rulemaking processes; if rulemaking power is later found unconstitutional, the authority and rules enacted after Aug 28, 2026 become invalid.
Additional notes
- Public reporting and transparency: camps must link to Department-approved pages on reporting noncompliance.
- Emergency planning database and cross-agency sharing with state emergency management.
- The bill explicitly would place summer/day camps on parity with licensed child care facilities for inspections and oversight.
Fiscal and implementation considerations
- The fiscal note estimates significant costs to DESE (licensing, staffing, data systems) and related agencies (DPS Fire Safety, DHSS/BEHS, DHSS, etc.), with an initial net General Revenue cost (multi-year) and associated FTE increases (statewide). Potential local cost for inspections and law enforcement involvement is noted as unknown or variable.
- Estimated net General Revenue impact: about $5.27 million in FY2027, rising to about $5.47 million in FY2029, with a total of roughly 44 FTEs added for DESE-related functions.
- Local and small-business impacts anticipated due to compliance costs and staffing needs.
Effective date
- The bill carries an August 28, 2026 trigger for certain rulemaking provisions and related constitutional considerations; full licensing and regulatory framework would become active following rule adoption and license issuance.
Overall impact
- Creates a comprehensive state licensing and safety framework for summer and day camps, emphasizing emergency preparedness, staff training, background checks, and regular inspections to enhance minor safety. It imposes significant administrative, financial, and operational requirements on camp operators and various state agencies.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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