This bill gives parents peace of mind and sets clear expectations for camp operators — because the safety of Texas children must always come first.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the Texas Senate’s unanimous passage of Senate Bill 1, the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock:
“Every child who attends summer camp should come home with nothing more than memories of laughter, friendship, and adventure. This July, Texas was shaken by the catastrophic flooding at Camp Mystic, where 27 young lives were lost. Today, the Texas Senate has taken an important step to ensure that no parent in our state ever has to endure that kind of heartbreak again.
“We cannot legislate away every danger in life, but we can insist on vigilance, preparedness, and accountability where children are entrusted to the care of others. This bill gives parents peace of mind and sets clear expectations for camp operators — because the safety of Texas children must always come first.
“I am grateful to my Senate colleagues for their overwhelming support of this critical legislation. I also want to recognize and thank the families who turned their grief into action, joining us in the fight to make sure that the lessons learned from Camp Mystic lead to lasting change. Their courage and strength honor the memory of the children we lost. From the beginning, we listened closely to the families of the victims. They gave us a list of priorities that mattered most to them, and SB 1 honors their voices by including every single one.
“The passage of the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act ensures that the tragedy at Camp Mystic will never be forgotten — and that from this heartbreak, Texas has built something stronger to protect generations of children to come. ”
“We cannot legislate away every danger in life, but we can insist on vigilance, preparedness, and accountability where children are entrusted to the care of others. This bill gives parents peace of mind and sets clear expectations for camp operators — because the safety of Texas children must always come first.
“I am grateful to my Senate colleagues for their overwhelming support of this critical legislation. I also want to recognize and thank the families who turned their grief into action, joining us in the fight to make sure that the lessons learned from Camp Mystic lead to lasting change. Their courage and strength honor the memory of the children we lost. From the beginning, we listened closely to the families of the victims. They gave us a list of priorities that mattered most to them, and SB 1 honors their voices by including every single one.
“The passage of the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act ensures that the tragedy at Camp Mystic will never be forgotten — and that from this heartbreak, Texas has built something stronger to protect generations of children to come. ”
Senate Bill 1, the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act by Sen. Charles Perry, establishes clear standards to protect the lives of Texas children. The bill requires youth camps and campgrounds to maintain real-time weather alert systems, train staff on evacuation routes, and develop emergency preparedness plans. Camps must also be transparent with families about potential risks, ensure every staff member is trained in emergency procedures, and prohibit cabins, used as sleeping quarters, from being located in dangerous river floodplains.
In addition, SB 1 requires camps to have the ability to notify and communicate with campers and staff during an emergency, and mandates that emergency plans be shared with local emergency management coordinators.
