The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the content clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (1) Act--Texas Youth Camp Safety and Health Act, Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 141.
2. (2) Adult--A person at least 18 years of age or older.

3. (3) Broadband service--Internet service with the capability of providing a:

   1. (A) speed of not less than 100 megabits per second for a download;
   2. (B) speed of not less than 20 megabits per second for an upload; and
   3. (C) network round-trip latency of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds based on the 95th percentile of speed measurements.
4. (4) Cabin--A structure used to provide temporary sleeping quarters for campers.
5. (5) Camper--A minor child, younger than 18 years of age, who is attending a youth camp on either a day or boarding basis.
6. (6) Challenge course--Activity designed for educational purposes or team building, which may offer a variety of challenges, including zip lines, high and low rope courses, rappelling, and climbing walls.
7. (7) Commissioner--The commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
8. (8) Day camp--A camp that operates during the day or any portion of the day between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. for four or more consecutive days and that offers no more than two overnight stays during each camp session. To be eligible to be licensed as a youth camp, the camp's schedule must be structured so that each camper attends for four hours or more per day for four consecutive days. The term does not include a facility that is required to be licensed with the Health and Human Services Commission.
9. (9) Department--Texas Department of State Health Services.
10. (10) Executive commissioner--Executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
11. (11) Firearm--Any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or a burning substance, or any device readily convertible to that use.
12. (12) Floodplain--Any area within a 100-year floodplain identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 4001 et seq.). This term includes any area removed from the 100-year floodplain by a letter of map amendment, a letter of map revision based on fill, or a substantially similar administrative process conducted by FEMA.
13. (13) Floodway--An area identified on the most recent flood hazard map published by FEMA under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. Section 4001 et seq.) as a regulatory floodway.
14. (14) Governmental entity--This state or a state agency or political subdivision of this state.
15. (15) Municipal water supply--A public water supply owned or operated by or for a city or a corporation having the right of administering local government.
16. (16) Pellet gun--Any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using compressed air or carbon dioxide. This definition includes air guns, air rifles, BB guns, and paintball guns.
17. (17) Permanent structure--Man-made buildings such as dining halls, dormitories, cabins, or other buildings that are constructed to remain stationary.
18. (18) Person--An individual, partnership, corporation, association, or organization. In rules for this subchapter, a person does not include a government or governmental subdivision.
19. (19) Playground--A designated area designed for campers to play freely on equipment as defined in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Publication Number 325, "Public Playground Safety Handbook," July 2025 as amended.
20. (20) Primitive camp--A youth camp that does not provide either permanent structures or utilities for camper use.
21. (21) Public water system--A public water system, as defined in 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §290.38 (relating to Definitions) is a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, which includes all uses described under the definition for drinking water in 30 TAC §290.38. Such a system must have at least 15 service connections or serve at least 25 individuals at least 60 days out of the year. This term includes any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under the control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system, and any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control that are used primarily in connection with such system. Two or more systems with each having a potential to serve less than 15 connections or less than 25 individuals but owned by the same person, firm, or corporation and located on adjacent land will be considered a public water system when the total potential service connections in the combined systems are 15 or greater or if the total number of individuals served by the combined systems total 25 or greater at least 60 days out of the year. Without excluding other meanings of the terms "individual" or "served," an individual must be deemed to be served by a water system if he lives in, uses as his place of employment, or works in a place to which drinking water is supplied from the system.
22. (22) Resident camp--A camp that for a period of four or more consecutive days continuously provides residential services to each camper, including overnight accommodations for at least three consecutive nights.
23. (23) Supervised--A person is supervised if the person is within sight, except for infrequent momentary periods such as restroom breaks, and within reasonable hearing distance of a camper's outcry, of an adult with an obligation to report inappropriate or dangerous activities or behavior who has been made aware that the obligation is in effect at that time and who has willingly accepted the obligation. This definition is applicable only to rules relating to unsupervised contact with campers.
24. (24) Supervisor/counselor--A person, at least 18 years of age or older, who is responsible for the immediate supervision of campers.

25. (25) Swim test--A formalized test, specific to the body of water utilized, to determine each child's swimming ability. A swim test includes a skill evaluation, or some equivalent method of determining swimming ability, such as the following.

    1. (A) A non-swimmer gets into the shallow water, sits down, stands up, and exits the water.
    2. (B) An intermediate swimmer jumps feet first into water at least twelve inches deeper than the height of the child, levels off, swims 25 feet, turns around and swims back, then exits the water.
    3. (C) A swimmer jumps feet-first into water at least twelve inches deeper than the height of the child and swims 75 yards in a strong stroke on the stomach or side (breaststroke, sidestroke, crawl, trudgen, or any combination); then swims 25 yards on the back (elementary back stroke), floats and rests on the back for one minute, then exits the water.
26. (26) TCEQ--Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
27. (27) Travel camp--A day or resident camp, lasting for four or more consecutive days, that begins and ends at a fixed location, but may move from location to location on a daily basis.
28. (28) Waterfront--A natural or artificial body of water that includes a lake, ocean, bay, pond, river, swimming pool, or spa, which is the site of any water activity.
29. (29) Waterfront activity--A recreational or instructional activity, occurring in, on, or near a waterfront. Waterfront activity includes swimming, boating, water skiing, scuba diving, rafting, tubing, synchronized swimming, or sailing.

30. (30) Youth camp--A facility or property, other than a facility required to be licensed by the Health and Human Services Commission, that:

    1. (A) has the general characteristics of a day camp, resident camp, or travel camp;
    2. (B) provides supervision and instruction in recreational, athletic, religious, or educational activities;
    3. (C) during a camp session, offers at least two youth camp specialized activities in an outdoor setting;
    4. (D) accommodates at least five minors during each camp session who attend or temporarily reside at the camp, apart from parents or guardians, for all or part of at least four consecutive days;
    5. (E) operates as a youth camp for four consecutive hours or more per day;
    6. (F) operates as a youth camp only during school vacation periods;
    7. (G) operates as a youth camp for no more than 120 days each calendar year; and
    8. (H) is not a facility or program operated by or on the campus of an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education as those terms are defined by the Texas Education Code§61.003, that is regularly inspected by one or more local governmental entities for compliance with health and safety standards.
31. (31) Youth camp specialized activity--A camp activity such as waterfront activities, archery, horseback riding, challenge courses, or riflery that requires special technical skills, equipment, or safety regulations, and a high level of adult supervision at all times.
32. (32) Youth camp operator--Any person who owns, operates, controls, or supervises a youth camp, whether or not for profit.

Source Note:The provisions of this §265.11 adopted to be effective April 16, 2006, 31 TexReg 3049; amended to be effective May 16, 2010, 35 TexReg 3815; amended to be effective March 13, 2014, 39 TexReg 1713; amended to be effective February 25, 2019, 44 TexReg 862; amended to be effective June 25, 2020, 45 TexReg 4202; amended to be effective February 2, 2026, 51 TexReg 571.