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AlabamaHB3812026 Regular SessionHouse

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

Sponsored By: David Faulkner (Republican)

Enacted

Public Safety & Emergencies

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Camp operators need five-year safety licenses

Beginning January 1, 2027, Alabama overnight camps serving children age 16 or younger need an emergency-preparedness license before operating. Each site needs its own license, valid for five years. Applications must include a valid state health permit for food and lodging sanitation, proof of liability insurance, and an emergency plan. Operators must file a supplemental application within 45 days after boundaries change, cabins are added, or renovations increase a cabin's camper capacity by more than three. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency must decide initial applications within 90 days and send renewal reminders at least 90 days before renewal is due. Operators must renew by the agency's deadline. The law provides no express state funding appropriation for these requirements.

Parents can request camp safety information

Beginning January 1, 2027, parents and legal guardians of registered or prospective campers can request the camp's current emergency-preparedness license. Parents and guardians of registered campers can also request a short written summary of emergency procedures. Both groups can ask whether any cabin is in a floodplain. The operator must provide the requested information.

Camp staff face criminal history checks

Beginning January 1, 2027, camps must obtain criminal-history checks for staff. Operators cannot retain staff whose sexual or violent crime convictions are disclosed by state law enforcement or a qualifying background-check contractor. Contractors must be recognized as reliable by professional camping organizations or approved by the state emergency agency. Operators must submit staff lists with their initial license applications and renewal applications, with background-check verification. These rules also require checks for staff supplied by organizations using a camp under lease or contract.

Camp safety training covers leased operations

Beginning January 1, 2027, camps must give staff and campers safety orientation within 24 hours after a session starts. Camper instruction must be age-appropriate and cover boundaries, hazards, and emergency actions, including evacuation under the camp plan. Staff must review the latest approved plan annually and whenever the agency approves a change, and complete annual emergency training. Operators must keep written or digital records of successful training. When camps are leased, contracts must require the other organization to verify staff background checks and teach staff the emergency and evacuation plans. The camp's emergency coordinator must orient that organization's staff upon arrival. Campers in leased operations must receive age-appropriate emergency instruction within 24 hours of arrival.

Camps need backup alerts and shelters

Beginning January 1, 2027, covered camps must operate a NOAA all-hazards weather radio and backup staff alerts independent of texts or cellular service. Emergency alarms must be audible indoors and outdoors and work without Internet. Shelters must hold the maximum number of overnight campers and staff. Before licensing, the state emergency agency must approve plans covering missing campers, fire, severe illness or death, water incidents, severe weather, disease outbreaks, unauthorized people, and other disasters. Plans must address nighttime evacuation, sheltering, evacuation routes and communications, emergency coordination, and timely parent notification. Camps must designate at least one emergency coordinator where required. Non-mandatory plan updates must be submitted within 10 days. The agency must keep the latest approved plans digitally, share them with local emergency organizations, and publish a list of licensed camps.

Floodplain cabins face limits and safeguards

Beginning January 1, 2027, camps cannot build or expand cabins in floodplains. Existing floodplain cabins need agency approval and must meet all required flood safeguards. Their lowest finished floors must be at least two feet above the applicable base flood elevation, using the best available flood data when none is provided. Operators must install high-water markers at appropriate locations and include enhanced flood evacuation procedures in their emergency plans. Cabins must also be outside the regulatory floodway shown on the latest FEMA flood map. This section does not apply to cabins at camps located in or next to FEMA Zone V or VE coastal high-hazard areas.

State checks camps with oversight limits

Beginning January 1, 2027, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency may inspect required camp documents, staff training records, and on-site approved plans. Inspection times require the operator's agreement, except during emergencies or after specific, credible complaints about unsafe conditions or noncompliance. License denials require written reasons; applicants have 30 days to appeal to the agency director. The director's decision is final, but operators can reapply, and the agency can allow alternatives that adequately protect campers. Agency rules cannot expand the law's scope or add duties not expressly required. An advisory-only council took effect upon the Governor's approval and ends three years after that approval. Its members represent agencies, camps, and safety groups, must reflect demographic and geographic diversity, and serve without pay. The law creates no new standalone right to sue and does not change existing civil liability rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • David Faulkner

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Adline Clarke

    Democratic • House

  • Alan Baker

    Republican • House

  • Allen Treadaway

    Republican • House

  • Andy Whitt

    Republican • House

  • Artis 'A.J.' McCampbell

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Boyd

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Drummond

    Democratic • House

  • Berry Forte

    Democratic • House

  • Bill Lamb

    Republican • House

  • Bob Fincher

    Republican • House

  • Brett Easterbrook

    Republican • House

  • Bryan Brinyark

    Republican • House

  • Chip Brown

    Republican • House

  • Chris England

    Democratic • House

  • Chris Pringle

    Republican • House

  • Chris Sells

    Republican • House

  • Curtis Travis

    Democratic • House

  • Danny Crawford

    Republican • House

  • Danny Garrett

    Republican • House

  • David Standridge

    Republican • House

  • Donna Givens

    Republican • House

  • Ernie Yarbrough

    Republican • House

  • Frances Holk-Jones

    Republican • House

  • Heath Allbright

    Republican • House

  • Ivan Smith

    Republican • House

  • Jeana Ross

    Republican • House

  • Jeff Sorrells

    Republican • House

  • Jeremy Gray

    Democratic • House

  • Jerry Starnes

    Republican • House

  • Jim Carns

    Republican • House

  • Jim Hill

    Republican • House

  • Joe Lovvorn

    Republican • House

  • Kelvin Datcher

    Democratic • House

  • Kelvin Lawrence

    Democratic • House

  • Kerry (Bubba) Underwood

    Republican • House

  • Leigh Hulsey

    Republican • House

  • M. Moore

    Democratic • House

  • Marcus Paramore

    Republican • House

  • Margie Wilcox

    Republican • House

  • Marilyn Lands

    Democratic • House

  • Mark Gidley

    Republican • House

  • Mark Shirey

    Republican • House

  • Mike Kirkland

    Republican • House

  • Napoleon Bracy

    Democratic • House

  • Nathaniel Ledbetter

    Republican • House

  • Neil Rafferty

    Democratic • House

  • Norman Crow

    Republican • House

  • Ontario Tillman

    Democratic • House

  • Parker Moore

    Republican • House

  • Patrice McClammy

    Democratic • House

  • Patrick Sellers

    Democratic • House

  • Paul W. Lee

    Republican • House

  • Pebblin W. Warren

    Democratic • House

  • Phillip Ensler

    Democratic • House

  • Phillip Pettus

    Republican • House

  • Prince Chestnut

    Democratic • House

  • Reed Ingram

    Republican • House

  • Rex Reynolds

    Republican • House

  • Rhett Marques

    Republican • House

  • Rick Rehm

    Republican • House

  • Ron Bolton

    Republican • House

  • Russell Bedsole

    Republican • House

  • Scott Stadthagen

    Republican • House

  • Shane Stringer

    Republican • House

  • Steve Clouse

    Republican • House

  • Susan DuBose

    Republican • House

  • TaShina Morris

    Democratic • House

  • Thomas Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Tracy Estes

    Republican • House

  • Travis Hendrix

    Democratic • House

  • William Brock Colvin

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 704 • No: 7

House vote • 3/31/2026

Faulkner Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1118

Yes: 66 • No: 0 • Other: 32

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Petition To Close Debate- Adopted Roll Call 985

Yes: 27 • No: 6

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 987

Yes: 33 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Roberts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 986

Yes: 32 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/17/2026

Add Cosponsor - Adopted Roll Call 441

Yes: 101 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/17/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 440

Yes: 104 • No: 0

House vote • 2/17/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 438

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote • 2/17/2026

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote • 2/17/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 439

Yes: 103 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    4/8/2026House

  2. Enrolled

    4/1/2026House

  3. Signature Requested

    4/1/2026Senate

  4. Delivered to Governor

    4/1/2026House

  5. Third Reading in Second House

    3/31/2026Senate

  6. Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development 1st Substitute Offered

    3/31/2026Senate

  7. Roberts motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote

    3/31/2026Senate

  8. Roberts Substitute Offered

    3/31/2026Senate

  9. Petition To Close Debate- Adopted Roll Call 985

    3/31/2026Senate

  10. Roberts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 986

    3/31/2026Senate

  11. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 987

    3/31/2026Senate

  12. Faulkner Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1118

    3/31/2026House

  13. Ready to Enroll

    3/31/2026House

  14. Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development 1st Substitute

    3/17/2026Senate

  15. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    3/17/2026Senate

  16. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    3/17/2026Senate

  17. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    2/18/2026Senate

  18. Third Reading in House of Origin

    2/17/2026House

  19. State Government Engrossed Substitute Offered

    2/17/2026House

  20. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 438

    2/17/2026House

  21. Faulkner 1st Amendment Offered

    2/17/2026House

  22. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 439

    2/17/2026House

  23. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 440

    2/17/2026House

  24. Add Cosponsor - Adopted Roll Call 441

    2/17/2026House

  25. Engrossed

    2/17/2026House

Bill Text

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