CARNIVAL OPERATORS & RIDERS - H.B. 5509: FLOOR ANALYSIS


House Bill 5509 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Representative Tony Stamas

House Committee: Conservation and Outdoor Recreation

Senate Committee: Economic Development, International Trade and Regulatory Affairs


CONTENT


The bill would amend the Carnival-Amusement Safety Act to do the following:


-- Require carnival or amusement riders to obey reasonable safety rules posted in accordance with the Act and oral instructions given by an operator.

-- Prohibit riders from engaging in certain activities, such as interfering with safety devices, failing to engage safety devices, altering the intended speed of a ride, and throwing or dropping objects from or toward a ride.

-- Prohibit a rider from getting on a ride unless he or she knew how to get on, use, and get off the ride; understood signs in the vicinity of the ride; met posted height, medical, or other requirements; was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and was authorized to get on the ride.

-- Require carnival or amusement ride operators to post signs indicating rider safety responsibilities, operational instructions, restrictions on the use of a ride, and prohibited behavior or activities.

-- Require a rider to report to the operator any injury sustained on a ride, before leaving the operator's premises or as soon as reasonably possible.

-- Specify that failure to report an injury would not affect the rider's right to bring a civil action related to the incident.


MCL 408.652 et al. - Legislative Analyst: S. Lowe


FISCAL IMPACT


The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local government. There are no statewide data available to show how many offenders violate the State law concerning carnival or amusement rides or how many more offenders there would be if the provisions applied to the general public as well as carnival ride operators. A violation of the Act is a misdemeanor. Local units of government receive the fines or incur the costs of incarceration for misdemeanors.



Date Completed: 11-29-00 - Fiscal Analyst: K. Firestone

floor\hb5509 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.