STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Vibrant
AGENDA DATE: August 27, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): Citywide
DEPARTMENT: Park & Recreation Department
EXECUTIVE: John D. Jenkins
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize (1) a public hearing to be held on September 10, 2025, to receive comments on readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12, "City Youth Program Standards of Care," of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law; and, at the close of the hearing, (2) approval of an ordinance to readopt Chapter 12 of the Dallas City Code - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
Body
BACKGROUND
Section 42.041(b)(14) of the Texas Human Resources Code, as amended, allows city- sponsored youth recreation programs to be exempted from the state's day care licensing laws if the city adopts standards of care for those programs and complies with other requirements of that legislation. One requirement is that the City Council hold a public hearing annually on the city's youth program standards of care and adopt an ordinance re- establishing and continuing in effect the standards.
Ordinance No. 23159, adopted by the City Council on June 11, 1997, created Chapter 12 of the Dallas City Code in order to exempt City of Dallas youth programs from State child- care licensing requirements and provide minimum standards by which the City operates youth programs. Chapter 12 was readopted on June 10, 1998, by Ordinance No. 23534; on June 9, 1999, by Ordinance No. 23907; on June 14, 2000, by Ordinance No. 24281; on May 23, 2001, by Ordinance No. 24611; on May 22, 2002, by Ordinance No. 24943; on May 28, 2003, by Ordinance No. 25269; on June 9, 2004, by Ordinance No. 25628; on May 25, 2005, by Ordinance No. 25998; on June 14, 2006, by Ordinance No. 26376; on June 13, 2007, by Ordinance No. 26800; on June 11, 2008, by Ordinance No. 27222; on June 10, 2009, by Ordinance No. 27565; on June 9, 2010, by Ordinance No. 27911; on May 25, 2011, by Ordinance No. 28217; on May 23, 2012, by Ordinance No. 28670; on June 12, 2013, by Ordinance No. 29036; on May 28, 2014, by Ordinance No. 29358; on May 28, 2016, by Ordinance No. 30106; on September 13, 2017 by Ordinance No. 30650; on September 12, 2018, by Ordinance No. 30976; on September 11, 2019, by Ordinance No. 31329; on September 9, 2020, by Ordinance No. 31647; on September 9, 2021, by Ordinance No. 31994; on August 24, 2022, by Ordinance No. 32290; on September 13, 2023, by Ordinance No. 32553; and on September 11, 2024, by Ordinance No.32860.
The Director of the Park & Recreation Department implements, administers, and enforces Chapter 12, which applies to youth programs sponsored by the City, whether offered after school, during the summer, or during holidays. A coordinator initiates an inspection report for each program to confirm that standards of care are being met. The youth program coordinators and leaders must meet certain qualifications pertaining to age, education, and experience and are provided with orientation and training relating to working with children. Each program must operate with a participant to leader ratio of 1:20 and must follow guidelines pertaining to safety, fire, and health as set forth in the standards of care.
The current standard requiring a clear tuberculosis test within 12 months prior to employment has been deleted for Youth program coordinator Sec. 12-8(5) and each leader Sec. 12-9(5). These standards were deleted because the standard is not required by the Texas Human Resources Services Code and is no longer required in the City of Dallas pre-employment process.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On August 23, 2023, the City Council authorized a public hearing to receive comments on readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12, “City Youth program Standards of Care,” of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law in Resolution No. 23-1267.
On August 1, 2024, the Park and Recreation Board authorized a public hearing to be held on September 11, 2024, to receive public comments on readopting and continuing in Chapter 12, "City Youth Program Standards of Care," of the Dallas City Code, to seek Council Approval extending the expiration date of the City Youth Program Standards of Care to September 13, 2025; and at the close of the public hearing, approving an ordinance re-establishing and continuing in effect the City Youth Program Standards.
On August 11, 2024, the City Council authorized a public hearing to receive comments on readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12, “City Youth program Standards of Care,” of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law in Resolution No. 23-1334.
On August 7, 2025, the Park and Recreation Board will consider authorizing a public hearing to be held on September 10, 2025, to receive comments on readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12, "City Youth Program Standards of Care," of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law; and, at the close of the hearing, and approval of an ordinance to readopt Chapter 12 of the Dallas City Code.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to the City.