In order to comply with 42.041 (b) (14) of the Texas Human Resources Code, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) requests City Council hold a public hearing regarding the Houston Youth Recreation Program Standards of Care codified at Article XII of Chapter 32 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances. The Standards of Care are intended to be the minimum standards that HPARD will use to operate the After-School Enrichment Program. The program offers a wide range of recreational activities including arts and crafts, sports, games, field trips, and cultural and special events.
HPARD’s After-School Enrichment Program is subject to regulation. However, the Texas Human Resources Code 42.041 (b) (14) provides an exemption for a recreation program for elementary age children (ages 5 – 13) with the following criteria:
- A municipality operates the program;
- The governing body of the municipality annually adopts standards of care by ordinance after a public hearing for such programs;
- The program provides these standards of care to the parents of each program participant;
- The ordinance includes child/caregiver ratios, minimum employee qualifications, minimum building, health and safety standards,
- and mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing the adopted local standards;
- The program informs the parents that the state does not license the program; and
- The program does not advertise itself as a child-care operation.
The HPARD After-School Enrichment Program meets all of the above criteria for exemption. HPARD will recommend amending the Ordinance by striking Section 32.282 (c) which reads, “Program staff will use brief, supervised, separation (time out) from the group if necessary.” HPARD no longer use this practice for handling discipline matters.
The suggested hearing date is July 18, 2018.