HB 5256 — AN ACT CONCERNING LIABILITY FOR INJURIES INHERENT IN CAMPING WHILE AT A PRIVATE CAMPGROUND.

House of Representatives General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

5256511 February Session, 2024 LCOHouse Bill No.

14875256 ReferredHouse toof Representatives, April 16, 2024 The Committee on JUDICIARYJudiciary Introducedreported by:through REP.

(JUD)STAFSTROM ANof ACTthe CONCERNING129th LIABILITYDist., FORChairperson INJURIESof INHERENTthe INCommittee CAMPINGon WHILEthe ATpart Aof PRIVATEthe CAMPGROUND.House, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING LIABILITY FOR INJURIES INHERENT IN CAMPING WHILE AT A PRIVATE CAMPGROUND.

(b)HB5256 Each/ camperFile shall assume the risk for any injury to their person LCO 1487 1 of 2 Bill No.

5256511 arising1 outHB5256 ofFile theNo. hazards inherent in camping.

511 (b) Each camper shall assume the risk for any injury to their person arising out of the hazards inherent in camping.

Section 1 October 1, 2024 Section 1 New section JUD Joint Favorable LCOHB5256 1487/ 2File ofNo. 2

511 2 HB5256 File No.

511 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill, which specifies that campers using private campgrounds assume risks inherent to camping, is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact to the state or to municipalities.

This is not expected to have a material impact on court operations.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None HB5256 / File No.

511 3 HB5256 File No.

511 OLR Bill Analysis HB 5256 AN ACT CONCERNING LIABILITY FOR INJURIES INHERENT IN CAMPING WHILE AT A PRIVATE CAMPGROUND.

SUMMARY This bill requires that each camper (i.e., anyone who uses a private campground for camping or recreational vehicle camping) assume the risk for any injury to their person arising out of the hazards inherent in camping.

In doing so, the bill limits private campground owners’ liability (see below).

However, the bill specifies that it does not prevent suit or limit the liability of a private campground owner or operator who, while operating the private campground, does any of the following:

1.

commits an act or omission that constitutes negligence;

2.

intentionally causes the injury of another person;

3.

acts with a disregard for the injured person’s safety;

4.

fails to use a degree of care that an ordinarily careful, prudent person would use under similar circumstances;

or 5.

fails to conspicuously post warning signs of a condition known to be dangerous at the private campground.

The bill also requires any written contract between a camper and (1) a private campground owner or (2) a private campground owner’s employee or officer to contain, in clearly readable print, a warning notice stating that each camper assumes the risk for any injury to their person arising out of the hazards inherent in camping.

HB5256 / File No.

511 4 HB5256 File No.

511 Under the bill, “camping” means all aspects of visiting, staying at, using, and leaving a private campground, including using any lodging while at a private campground.

EFFECTIVE DATE: