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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY FOLMER, FONTANA, SOLOBAY, BOSCOLA, EICHELBERGER, WAUGH, ORIE, ROBBINS, KASUNIC, D. WHITE, EARLL, SCARNATI, BREWSTER, WOZNIAK, PICCOLA AND MENSCH, MAY 13, 2011 |
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| REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MAY 13, 2011 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending the act of February 2, 1966 (1965 P.L.1860, No.586), |
2 | entitled "An act encouraging landowners to make land and |
3 | water areas available to the public for recreational purposes |
4 | by limiting liability in connection therewith, and repealing |
5 | certain acts," further providing for liability for landowners |
6 | to recreational users; and providing for attorney fees and |
7 | court costs. |
8 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
9 | hereby enacts as follows: |
10 | Section 1. Section 1 of the act of February 2, 1965 |
11 | (P.L.1860, No.586), entitled "An act encouraging landowners to |
12 | make land and water areas available to the public for |
13 | recreational purposes by limiting liability in connection |
14 | therewith, and repealing certain acts," amended June 30, 2007 |
15 | (P.L.42, No.11), is amended to read: |
16 | Section 1. The purpose of this act is to encourage owners of |
17 | land to make land and water areas available to the public for |
18 | recreational purposes by limiting their liability[.] to: |
19 | (1) recreational users; and |
20 | (2) persons or property, wherever located, based on: |
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1 | (i) acts of omission by landowners; or |
2 | (ii) acts or acts of omission by recreational users. |
3 | Section 2. Section 2 of the act, amended March 26, 1992 |
4 | (P.L.27, No.10), is amended to read: |
5 | Section 2. As used in this act: |
6 | (1) "Land" means land, roads, water, watercourses, private |
7 | ways and buildings, amenities, structures, boating access and |
8 | launch ramps, bridges, fishing piers, boat docks, ramps, paths, |
9 | paved or unpaved trails, hunting blinds, and areas providing |
10 | access to, or parking for, lands and waters, including, but not |
11 | limited to, access ramps, trails or piers for use by persons |
12 | with disabilities, and machinery or equipment when attached to |
13 | the realty. The term applies to such areas and physical objects |
14 | whether they are in an unimproved condition or a condition |
15 | improved by manmade effort, whether they are large or small in |
16 | size and whether they are located in a rural or an urban area. |
17 | (2) "Owner" means the possessor of a fee interest, a tenant, |
18 | lessee, occupant or person in control of the premises. |
19 | (3) "Recreational purpose" means any activity undertaken or |
20 | viewed for exercise, sport, education, recreation, relaxation or |
21 | pleasure and includes, but is not limited to, any of the |
22 | following, or any combination thereof: hunting, fishing, |
23 | swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, hiking, pleasure |
24 | driving, snowmobiling, all-terrain vehicle and motorcycle |
25 | riding, nature study, water skiing, water sports, cave |
26 | exploration and viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, |
27 | scenic, or scientific sites. |
28 | (4) "Charge" means the admission price or fee asked in |
29 | return for invitation or permission to enter or go upon the |
30 | land. The term shall not include in-kind contributions or |
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1 | contributions made to an owner of real property which are de |
2 | minimis and given in consideration for making the real property |
3 | available for recreation purposes. |
4 | (5) "Recreational user" means any person who enters or uses |
5 | land for a recreational purpose. |
6 | (6) "Willful or malicious" means, in reference to an owner |
7 | of real property, an actual or deliberate intention by the owner |
8 | to cause harm or which, if not intentional, shows an utter |
9 | indifference to or conscious disregard for the safety of others. |
10 | Section 3. Section 3 of the act is amended to read: |
11 | Section 3. Except as specifically recognized or provided in |
12 | section 6 of this act, an owner of land owes no duty of care to |
13 | keep the premises safe for entry or use by [others for |
14 | recreational purposes] recreational users, or to give any |
15 | warning of a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity on |
16 | such premises to [persons entering for such purposes] |
17 | recreational users. |
18 | Section 4. Section 4 of the act, amended June 30, 2007 |
19 | (P.L.42, No.11), is amended to read: |
20 | Section 4. Except as specifically recognized by or provided |
21 | in section 6 of this act, an owner of land who either directly |
22 | or indirectly invites or permits without charge any [person] |
23 | recreational user to use such property [for recreational |
24 | purposes] does not thereby: |
25 | (1) Extend any assurance that the premises are safe for any |
26 | purpose. |
27 | (2) Confer upon such [person] recreational user the legal |
28 | status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed. |
29 | (3) Assume responsibility for or incur liability for any |
30 | injury to persons or property, wherever the persons or property |
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1 | is located, caused by an act or an act of omission of [such |
2 | persons] a recreational user or an act of omission of a |
3 | landowner. |
4 | (4) Assume responsibility for or incur liability for any |
5 | injury to persons or property, wherever such persons or property |
6 | are located, caused while hunting as defined in 34 Pa.C.S. § 102 |
7 | (relating to definitions). |
8 | Section 5. Sections 6 and 7 of the act are amended to read: |
9 | Section 6. Nothing in this act limits in any way any |
10 | liability which otherwise exists: |
11 | (1) For wilful or malicious failure to guard or warn against |
12 | a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity. |
13 | (2) For injury suffered in any case where the owner of land |
14 | charges the [person or persons] recreational user or users who |
15 | enter or go on the land [for the recreational use thereof], |
16 | except that in the case of land leased to the State or a |
17 | subdivision thereof, any consideration received by the owner for |
18 | such lease shall not be deemed a charge within the meaning of |
19 | its section. |
20 | Section 7. Nothing in this act shall be construed to: |
21 | (1) Create a duty of care or ground of liability for injury |
22 | to persons or property. |
23 | (2) Relieve any [person using the land of another for |
24 | recreational purposes] recreational user from any obligation |
25 | which he may have in the absence of this act to exercise care in |
26 | his use of such land and in his activities thereon, or from the |
27 | legal consequences of failure to employ such care. |
28 | Section 6. The act is amended by adding a section to read: |
29 | Section 7.1. The court shall award attorney fees and direct |
30 | legal costs to an owner, lessee, manager, holder of an easement |
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1 | or occupant of real property who is found not to be liable for |
2 | the injury to a person or property pursuant to this act. |
3 | Section 7. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
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