A Facebook page was set up by Adam Benas to help mobilize people against Texas Legislature Online Bill: SB 68.
Overzealous politicians are trying to “improve” gymnastics clubs by putting them under the same minimum standards required by day-care centers.
Stupid.
Senate Bill 68 overview:
If you have children who train 10 hours or more a week in your facility – you will be required to be child care licensed by the state of Texas. This licensing will require your facility to meet all the minimum standards set by child care licensing (most gyms will not be able to meet these requirements which will include bathroom sink/toilet ratios in compliance with child care standards, out door playground, Child Care certification of workers and director, sprinkler systems that not only meet building code but also meet child care standards and climbing structures with safety fall zones). Uneven bars would be considered a climbing structure and would not pass child care regulations. This bill passed the Senate Sub Committee unanimously yesterday. …
Facebook – Save Texas Gymnastics!
Join this group to show your support against the proposed new Texas legislation.
3 comments ↓
I do think that there is one good thing about this bill and that is the sprinklers. That should happen and it should be a building code violation if they aren’t up to standards. My HS had a huge fire in the library because the building which was built in 1972 didn’t have sprinklers. Luckily the building which was designed by a guy who builds jails (no kidding there) was made out of concrete so the only damage was to wood beams and books. Had we had sprinklers, it would have alerted someone quicker and we wouldn’t have had as much damage.
Our gym can get by a lot of building code because it was grandfathered in before new existing statues. A lot of gyms probably have similar issues.
Some of this sounds like malarkey though.
WTH, no UB because it doesn’t pass child care regulations?
Whether it should be under fitness/sport facility code or child code is an interesting argument.
The sprinkler’s are a non-issue. Most cities require their fire departments to annually expect all premises for fire safety and to re-certify their fire extinquishers. Let me be blunt. This is about money. Additional “licensing” fees will bring money into the State; however, it is short-sighted because the cities will lose money because many businesses will close thereby costing the cities lost tax revenue–businesses are one way to keep your property tax down! Call your city council and mayor’. They probably aren’t aware of this bill and its ramifications or they’d be fighting it too. In addition, this means your child is subject to what the state wants or doesn’t want your child to learn. With the influx of stimulus funds, the feds will have a say also. It’s the government’s way of getting in the door.
Just remember, every city has these clubs–Frisco & Plano have WOGA, Select Soccer; Coppell has Everybody Fits; even the small town of Farmers Branch has a championship gymnastic club, select soccer, and fencing.
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