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Bill

S 3958

Relates to requiring staff and children enrolled in an overnight camp, children's summer day camp, or travelling summer day camp to be vaccinated

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

Requires vaccination for camp staff and children in overnight, non-regulated, summer day, or travelling camps to curb disease spread; vaccines, exemptions, enforcement details TBD.

PRINT NUMBER 3958A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3958

Summary of Bill S 3958

Overview

  • Bill: S 3958
  • Title: Relates to requiring staff and children enrolled in an overnight, children's non-regulated, summer day, or travelling camp to be vaccinated
  • Status: Referenced to Health Committee
  • Introduced: January 31, 2025
  • Primary Sponsor: James Skoufis
  • Chambers/Related Legislation: Companion and related bills exist (see Related Bills section)

Purpose and Intent

The bill appears to require vaccination for two groups within specified camp settings:
- Camp staff
- Children enrolled in certain types of camps

The stated objective, inferred from the title, is to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable disease transmission in camp environments and protect campers, staff, and their families. The exact vaccines required, exemptions, and enforcement mechanisms are not provided in the information available here.

Key Provisions (Based on Title; text not provided)

  • Who is covered: Staff and children participating in:
    • Overnight camps
    • Children’s non-regulated camps
    • Summer day camps
    • Travelling camps
  • Requirement: Mandatory vaccination (specific vaccines not listed in the provided material)
  • Details not specified in available information:
    • Which vaccines are required (e.g., age-appropriate schedules, adult vs. child vaccines)
    • Medical, religious, or philosophical exemptions (if any)
    • Documentation or verification process for vaccination
    • Enforcement mechanisms, penalties for non-compliance, or penalties
    • Effective date or phase-in period
    • Damages, liability, or appeals processes

Affected Parties

  • Camp operators and sponsors
  • Camp staff (employees or contractors)
  • Children enrolled in the specified camp types
  • Families of enrolled children
  • Public health authorities responsible for enforcement and compliance

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Current status: Referred to Health Committee, indicating the bill is in early-stage committee review.
  • Actions to watch: Potential committee hearings, amendments, floor consideration, and votes. If advanced, could move to other chambers for further action.
  • Introduced date: January 31, 2025, with subsequent identical committee referrals noted on the same date.

Legislative Context and Related Bills

  • Primary sponsor: James Skoufis
  • Related/companion bills (prior-session or cross-chamber):
    • S 6279 (prior-session)
    • S 4249 (prior-session)
    • S 2726 (prior-session)
    • A 3254 (companion; listed for the Assembly)
  • These related measures suggest ongoing legislative interest in vaccination requirements for camp settings in prior sessions.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Public health impact: Aimed at reducing outbreaks in camp settings; potential to improve vaccination coverage among attendees and staff.
  • Operational impact: Camp operators may need to implement vaccination verification processes and manage exemptions if allowed; potential administrative and costs related to compliance.
  • Equity and access: Availability of vaccines and exemptions could affect participation; any exemptions policies would influence inclusivity.
  • Implementation timeline: With the bill in the Health Committee stage, timelines for compliance would depend on subsequent legislative actions and any enacted regulations.

Next Steps for Readers

  • Monitor for updates on committee hearings, amendments, and votes.
  • Review the full text of the bill when available to understand vaccine types, exemptions, documentation requirements, and enforcement details.
  • Compare with related bills (S 6279, S 4249, S 2726, A 3254) to understand converging or divergent approaches in the legislature.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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