Senate committee advances bill limiting volunteer liability for fee‑free recreation clubs

Senator Cindy Carlson, sponsor of House Bill 81 and senator for District 7, told the Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee the bill is intended to “encourage the formation of recreation clubs and participation in recreation activities organized by clubs” by limiting liability for volunteers and members when participants are injured during activities that carry known, inherent dangers.

The measure applies only to recreation activities “when done without charge or fee payable to the recreation club or a club member,” Carlson said, and retains exceptions that allow claims for intentional conduct, gross negligence and ordinary negligence between members. The committee voted to send the bill to…