Sec.19a-428-4. Physical Plant and Program Practices

(a) The water supply shall be provided from (1) a public water system that is regulated by the Department of Public Health and complies with all applicable sections of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, or (2) a source that is of sufficient quality and quantity to satisfy the requirements of the maximum number of persons served by the youth camp at any time and that conforms with the requirements of sections 19-13-B51a to 19-13-B51m, inclusive, and section 19-13-B101 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(b) Drinking fountains shall be sanitary and in compliance with section 19-13-B35 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. No common drinking utensils shall be provided or used. Readily available drinking water shall be accessible to children at all times.

(c) Chemical toilets, fly tight privy pits or water flushed toilets shall be provided and shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Separate toilets for males and females shall be provided. In a residential youth camp, at least one toilet seat for each fifteen persons or fraction thereof shall be provided. At least one toilet seat for each twenty persons or fraction thereof shall be provided in each day camp. Urinals may be substituted for not more than one-half of the total requirement of toilet seats for male persons. No sleeping quarters within a youth camp shall be at a greater distance than three hundred feet from the toilets. The location of all toilets shall be plainly indicated by signs. Privy pits shall be located at least two hundred feet from a kitchen or food service area.

(d) The method of final sewage or refuse disposal utilized in connection with the operation of a youth camp shall not create a nuisance and shall conform with the requirements of sections 19-13-B103a to 19-13-B104d, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, and plans for such disposal shall be approved by the Department of Public Health.

(e) The plumbing systems in each youth camp shall conform with the requirements of section 19-13-B45 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(f) Adequate hand washing facilities shall be provided with at least one facility for each twenty persons or fraction thereof. Wash basins and water shall be readily accessible to the toilet rooms. In a residential youth camp at least one shower house shall be provided with one shower head for each twenty persons or fraction thereof.

(g) Supervision and equipment sufficient to prevent littering of the grounds with rubbish, garbage or other refuse shall be provided and maintained. Fly tight depositories for such material shall be provided and conspicuously located. Each dwelling unit site within a youth camp shall be not more than a distance of two hundred feet of such depository. Such depositories shall not be permitted to become foul smelling or unsightly or a breeding place for flies.

(h) Youth camps that dispense foods or beverages shall meet the requirements of section 19-13-B42 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. Day camps shall collect and store potentially hazardous food in accordance with section 19-13-B42 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(i) Swimming pools and bathing facilities, when provided, shall comply with the applicable provisions of section 19-13-B33b of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(j) The youth camp site shall be owned by the licensee or the licensee shall have a written lease to use the site as a youth camp and shall comply with the following general sanitation requirements:

(1) The location of the youth camp shall be such as to supply adequate drainage of all areas occupied by campers, the food preparation and service area and other activity areas.

(2) Buildings shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. When the Office or the local director of health so directs, a certificate of approval shall be obtained from the local or state fire marshal.

(3) All hot water and space heaters shall be located and vented to prevent risk of fire or health hazard.

(k) In every youth camp where space for trailer coaches, as defined by section 19-13-B44 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, is rented or offered for rent or on which free occupancy or camping of trailers is permitted to trailer owners or users, sanitary facilities shall be furnished for the disposal of wastes from trailer sinks and toilets. Trailer coaches shall meet the sanitation requirements in section 19-13-B44 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(l) Fields intended for athletic activities or use shall be maintained free of hazards.

(m) The waterfront and aquatic activities shall be laid out and conducted in accordance with training relating to water safety and small craft safety offered by the American Red Cross or its equivalent, as determined by the Office.

(n) Any amusement ride or devise shall meet the requirements of sections 29-132 to 29-136, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(o) The firing range shall be laid out and operated in accordance with standards of the National Rifle Association or its equivalent, as determined by the Office.

(p) Each challenge course shall be inspected prior to its initial use and annually thereafter, or more frequently if the course has been subject to any significant environmental impact, by a professional vendor or other qualified personnel not directly affiliated with the youth camp who follow the recommendations of authoritative sources, adhere to peer-accepted practices in construction and inspection of challenge courses and have experience in the construction and evaluation of the types of challenge courses being offered at the youth camp. Documentation of any inspection shall be maintained on-site for a period of two (2) years.

(q) The licensee shall develop written policies and procedures governing each of the following activities, if provided at the youth camp, the challenge course, firing range, archery range and horseback riding activities. The written policies and procedures shall be maintained on-site. The policies and procedures governing the challenge course, firing range, archery range and horseback riding activities shall include, but not be limited to, emergency operating plans, equipment maintenance and inspection, a procedure for communicating concerns to supervisory and managerial staff, supervision of activities, staff to child ratios, protective equipment, eligibility requirements for participation, and restriction of access to activities and equipment by unauthorized and unsupervised persons.

(r) The licensee shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable motor vehicle laws when transporting staff and campers. The licensee shall maintain official verification of a motor vehicle safety inspection for the current year for each youth camp vehicle used to transport staff and campers, and shall register, if necessary, each such youth camp vehicle for its specific use. For purposes of this subsection, “youth camp vehicle” does not include a school bus, school transportation vehicle, charter bus or motor coach.

(s) Boats and small crafts shall be operated in compliance with all applicable boating laws. Boats and small crafts shall be licensed or registered under the boating laws, if so required, and this information shall be available upon request to the Office. Water safety equipment shall meet applicable United States Coast Guard standards.

(t) Prior to each out-of-camp outing, the parent(s) of each camper shall sign a permission form allowing such camper to participate in such outing. Such permission form, as well as documentation indicating which staff and campers will be participating in such outing and the purpose, exact destination and itinerary of such outing, shall be maintained on-site at the youth camp for one (1) year. Staff with adequate training and experience relative to the trip activities shall be present during all youth camp outings to ensure the health and safety of campers and staff.

(u) Exceptions to the requirements of subsections (a), (c), and (f) of this section may be made by the Office at the Office’s discretion in the case of primitive or pioneer youth camps. Exceptions to the requirements of subsection (a) of section 19a-428-3 may be made by the Office at the Office’s discretion in the case of day camps where the requirements of a physical examination or health status certification for campers would impose a hardship on the administration of such a youth camp. Requests for such exemptions shall be made in writing by the youth camp director or licensee at least thirty days before the opening of youth camp.

(Effective September 25, 2017)