House Bill 381 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David FaulknerRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Camp safety; to set safety and emergency preparedness requirements for camps, including a licensure requirement

Summary

HB381 would require Alabama’s residential camps to obtain an Emergency Preparedness License and follow new safety, floodplain, and emergency-planning rules to protect campers.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill creates an Emergency Preparedness License program administered by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. Camp operators must apply for and obtain the license by January 1, 2027, and the license would be valid for five years, with extensions possible for approved changes to the camp. It also establishes minimum safety requirements (emergency plans, weather alerts, sheltering, floodplain rules, staff background checks, annual training, and on-site inspections) and creates a Youth Camp Safety Advisory Council to guide rules and monitor developments.

Who It Affects

• Camp operators and staff: must obtain the emergency preparedness license to operate, maintain approved emergency plans, run background checks on staff, ensure training and orientation, and be subject to inspections and license renewals.
• Campers and their families (and related community organizations): benefit from enhanced safety rules, required safety orientations, clear emergency procedures, and notifications about floodplain status and evacuation plans.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Emergency Preparedness License, issued by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, with a five-year validity and a requirement to apply by January 1, 2027; changes to camp boundaries or cabin counts require a supplemental application.
• No new or expanded cabins may be located in a floodplain after January 1, 2027; existing cabins may continue if the area is removed from floodplain status and the cabin meets elevation and floodway conditions, plus enhanced flood-specific evacuation procedures.
• Camps must have equipment and systems including an NOAA all-hazards weather radio, a staff alert protocol independent of cell service, and a non-Internet-based emergency notification system audible indoors and outdoors.
• each camp must maintain an approved emergency plan covering specific emergencies (lost camper, fire, serious illness/injury, water-related incidents, severe weather, disease outbreaks, unauthorized persons, natural disasters, and transportation incidents) and designate evacuation or shelter-in-place locations; plans require periodic updates and agency approval.
• Staff background checks are required for personnel provided by camp operators or organizations using the camp, with proof of compliance and mandatory annual training on emergency procedures; training completion must be documented.
• Camps are subject to on-site inspections to verify compliance; a list of licensed camps must be posted/maintained by the agency; an independent Youth Camp Safety Advisory Council is created to advise on rules, monitor developments, and recommend additional safety measures; the council dissolves three years after its creation.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 17, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Safety & Emergencies