Assemblywoman Amy R. Paulin thanks Governor Paterson for signing into law today a bill that will enable the Westchester County Department of Health to protect the well-being of thousands of kids attending Westchester summer camps.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Paulin, will close a loophole that keeps local health departments throughout New York State from inspecting children’s summer camps where more than half of the activities are conducted indoors.

"When children go off to camp each morning, parents assume their children are in good hands and that minimum standards of health and safety have been set by the state, and met by the camp,” said Assemblywoman Paulin. “But under the old law, this was not the case. Camps could hire counselors who were convicted sex offenders and pools could have been supervised by people without even basic CPR training. By closing the loophole under the old law, we are preventing children from suffering a needless injury or fatality. I thank Gov. Paterson for recognizing the importance of this legislation for Westchester County.”

Starting in 2011, the county Health Department will have the authority to inspect all summer day camps – this will include at least two dozen that had not previously been covered under the law. The county Health Department currently inspects more than 260 camps each summer. The inspections check out everything from staff training and certifications to health and fire safety as well as waterfront activities.

Doug Volan, director of Mount Tom Day Camp in New Rochelle and the former president of the New York State Camp Director’s Association, said the group supports the bill.

“We have been advocating for this for years,” Volan said. “All children who attend camps in the state whether indoor or outdoor, need the same protections. It shouldn’t matter whether they swim or climb rocks indoors or out. I’m surprised this was not done years ago.”