PRINTER'S NO.  2697

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

1891

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY MARSICO, AUMENT, BRENNAN, CREIGHTON, DENLINGER, ELLIS, GERGELY, GINGRICH, GROVE, HACKETT, HARHART, HEFFLEY, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, KILLION, KULA, MILLER, MURT, MUSTIO, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, SABATINA, SONNEY, STERN, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TOEPEL, WATERS AND YOUNGBLOOD, NOVEMBER 2, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the

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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for bowling

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center operator civil immunity.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

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Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

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§ 8339.2.  Bowling center operator civil immunity.

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(a)  Civil immunity.--Upon posting of a notice as described

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herein, and except for willful misconduct or gross negligence,

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no operator of a commercial bowling center shall be liable to a

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bowler for any damages for injuries sustained as a result of a

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slip, fall, stumble or similar occurrence within a bowling

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center, where such injuries were solely caused by a substance or

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material on the bowler's shoes which was acquired before

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entering or reentering a bowling center.

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(b)  Notice.--A notice shall be posted at or near each

 


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entrance and exit to a bowling center so as to be observable by

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a person entering or leaving the facility, advising them as

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follows:

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"Warning: Bowling shoes are specialized footwear and are not

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intended to be worn outside a bowling center. Bowling shoes

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may be affected by substances or materials such as snow, ice,

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rain, moisture, food or debris. A bowling center operator is

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not responsible and shall not be liable for any injuries

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which were solely caused by any substance or material

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acquired on a bowling shoe outside of the bowling center."

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(c)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following

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words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this

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subsection:

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"Bowler."  A person in a bowling center for the purpose of

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recreational or competitive bowling.

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"Bowling center."  Any building, facility or premises that

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provides an area specifically designed to be used by the public

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for recreational or competitive bowling.

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"Bowling shoe."  A shoe that is specifically designed for the

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purpose of recreational or competitive bowling.

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"Operator."  A person or entity that owns, manages, controls,

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directs or has operational responsibilities for a bowling

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center.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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