AUSTIN (KXAN) — The push to save lives following the deadly flooding in Central Texas was a priority for Texas Lawmakers on Thursday.
Both the Texas House and Senate discussed and ultimately passed bills that would implement new safety standards for youth camps.
One of these bills was House Bill 1, authored by Texas Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, which outlined new safety guidelines for youth camps.
The Senate passed SB 1, which also tackled safety requirements in youth camps. It would prevent to licensing certain camps in floodplains, unless the cabins were in a floodplain were connected to a lake, pond or other still body of water. It would also require specific evacuation plans for those cabins. The Senate adjourned following the passing of that bill and will reconvene Friday morning.
“Members. This is bill is for heaven 27,” said Darby on the House Chamber Floor. “The camp failed these girls. The county failed them. The river authority failed them. And in a larger sense, their government failed them.”
HB 1 included creating a detailed emergency plan covering natural disasters, fires, water emergencies and more. The bill did some concerns from Texas Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, who felt like the language using “floodplains” needs to be changed to “floodways.”
“There’s a difference in the risk profile between a camp located in a floodway than a camp located in a floodplain,” Vasut said. “About 20% of State of Texas is in Floodplain, including most of the coast, and there are many camps in the coast, none of which would be able to operate anymore, if we prohibited cabins in the floodplain.”
According to FEMA, a floodplain is any area that can be covered by floodwaters from any source. A floodway is a specific part of the floodplain—typically the river channel and adjacent land—that must remain unobstructed to allow floodwaters to flow freely without raising upstream water levels.
The language did not change, and House Bill 1 passed with a majority.
On Thursday evening, the Senate gaveled in to discuss other youth camp safety legislation. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gave an emotion message to the families who had children who died in the flooding at Camp Mystic.
“I can tell you that on a bipartisan basis, the members of this floor and this Senate are here to take action so that this never happens again,” Patrick said. “Our words will never be enough, but our commitment to the 27 families we hope will be the best we can do in these difficult times to help you move down a path that’s forward.”
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