The ACA-NJ Board working with the recommendations
of the ACA-NJ Legislative Committee and feedback
from a Membership Survey of the ACA-NJ member
camps developed a top hit list of issues
for our advocacy efforts in Trenton below.
Please click on the links below for important
updates.
ACA Exemption from
State and Local Department of Health
Inspections under the NJYCSA
Effective for the 2009 camp season with
the readoption of the NJ Youth Camp Safety
Act, the New Jersey Department of Health
and Senior Services by regulation is
accepting ACA accreditation in lieu of
performing state health inspections and
local pre-operational and operational
health inspections as it relates to the
enforcement of the NJYCSA. The health
inspection exemption is now law in New
Jersey and will be enforced as such by
the NJ Department of Health and Senior
Services. SEE THE LINKS BELOW FOR SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE IN THE REGULATIONS AND INFORMATION
ON WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO EFFECTUATE
YOUR CAMP’S EXEMPTION. |
ACA
Exemption Language (PDF)
Print this language and keep on hand for health inspectors. |
| Where
to Send Your Accreditation Certificate
and Compliance Steps for Exemption (PDF) |
| |
New Jersey Youth
Camp Safety Act
The Department of Health and Senior Services
is charged with the licensing and regulation
of youth camps in New Jersey. Please
click here for links to the Department’s recently
readopted and amended regulations
under the NJYCSA. |
NJYCSA
Adopted Regulations (PDF)  |
| A
Summary of Changes to the NJ Youth
Camp and Safety Act Regulations by
Loel Muetter (April
2010) |
2009
Changes to the Youth Camp Safety Standards (PDF)
by Loel Muetter, State of the Garden
State Presentation, April 2009 |
| Criminal
Background Summary – outline of requirements
for 2010 camp season |
| Criminal
History Status Affidavit/Notarized
Statement – this
is a SAMPLE affidavit produced by ACA
NJ Section and “informally” approved
by the NJ Department of Health for your
use. |
| |
Carnival and Amusement
Ride Regulations
The NJ Department of Community Affairs
currently views youth camps as "amusement
areas"
and your camp may not be in compliance
with state regulations for use of inflatables,
rock walls, pool slides and playground
equipment – to name a few. Please
click on this link to connect with important
information regarding these camp activities. |
| Rock
Wall Exemption Letter:
Attention Camp Directors - print this letter and keep on hand at your camp
for DCA inspectors. |
| www.state.nj.us/dca/codes/ridesafetyunit/ridesafetyunit.shtml |
| |
Wage, Hours, Break
Times and Overtime Regulations
With several ACA accredited camps recently
experiencing audits from the NJ Department
of Labor on wage, hours and overtime
compliance, ACA-NJ is currently reviewing
this issue to determine any changes necessary
to help camps better comply with these
regulations. Follow this link for
key information for employment of minors
and employees over 18 years of age. |
| DOL form: Schedule
of Hours for Minors under 18 (PDF) |
| http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wagehour/wagehour_index.html |
| http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wagehour/content/child_labor.html |
| Summary
of the New Jersey Paid
Family Leave Act (PDF) |
| Handouts
from labor attorney John Horowitz,
Esq. Labor Law presentation at State
of the Garden State program, April 17, 2008. www.acacampsnj.org/wage_hour_handouts.pdf |
| |
Camp Medicine
ACA’s member camps have expressed concerns finding physicians and nurses
for the camp season. We have compiled some helpful information to assist
camps access these health care professionals. |
Place an on-line listing and/or blast
your camp nurse positions to thousands
of nursing professionals. Prices range
from $275 - $395
http://NJSNA.AssociationCareerNetwork.com |
| Immunizations
Q & A including information on exemptions |
| Immunization
Chart – Immunization requirements
by age |
| |
Criminal Background
Checks
While criminal background checks are
not mandatory for ACA Accreditation or
until 2010 for state law, there are requirements
for thorough background checks, including
review of the Sex Offender Registry or
Megan’s Law to properly vet your
perspective employees. Please follow
these links for some useful sites: |
| ACA Recommended,
National Sex Offender Public Registry: www.nsopw.gov. This
site is free and checks all 50 states
and US territories. |
| National Sex Offender
Registry: www.familywatchdog.us |
New Jersey Sex
Offender Internet Registry: www.njsp.org/info/reg_sexoffend.html
For a list of vendors used by other ACA,
NJ Criminal Background checks, please
contact the Section office at 877-488-2267
or executive@ACAcampsnj.org. |
| |
Transportation,
Busing and Motor Vehicle Commission
A link is provided below to the
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
for all the information you need for
your drivers and buses. |
www.nj.gov/mvc/ |
