SENATOR MAHER LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION INCREASING YOUTH CAMP SAFETY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Today, State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton), Senate Chair of the Committee on Children led the Senate in the passage of legislation enhancing the safety of municipal youth camps in Connecticut.

“We know youth camps serve an important role in enriching children’s lives, providing an opportunity for outdoor experiences, pro-social connections with peers, access to positive role models and mentoring from camp counselors, and positive summer memories. Municipal camps also support families and provide much needed childcare for parents at an affordable rate, said Sen. Maher. “This bill will provide us with more information about the number of municipal camps operating in Connecticut, the number of children served, the safety protocols in place, and additional information on camps that currently doesn’t exist, helping to create a snapshot of how many children are being served in municipal camps throughout the state.”

Under Senate Bill 157, the Office of Early Childhood would work alongside other associations to administer a survey to municipal youth camps in the state. That survey will ask them about their facilities and settings, the number and age range of children served by each camp, number of employees, operating schedule, employee safety training, administration of medication to children, acceptance of child care aid subsidies, maintenance of written policies and procedures regarding employee hiring and compliance with youth camp regulations.

The bill also would require paid youth camp directors, assistant directors and staff members of municipal camps, 21 or older, to serve as mandated reporters and take mandated reporter training to be educated on how to follow the law in reporting crimes in the case of suspected abuse or neglect.

The bill received support from organizations including the CT Council of Small Towns, Office of Early Childhood, CT Camping Association, Office of the Child Advocate, and the Connecticut Alliance of YMCAs. The bill will bring multiple camp focused and town focused entities together to develop a the municipal camp survey.