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House approves law shielding schools from liability for permitted public uses; user organizations remain liable
Summary
First Substitute SB 56 passed the House (65-6), granting governmental immunity to schools when they permit non-school uses of facilities while leaving the permitting organization responsible for injuries; debate centered on safety incentives and insurance impacts.
First Substitute Senate Bill 56, which would extend governmental immunity to public schools for injuries arising from non-school uses of their facilities while leaving the sponsoring organization liable, passed the Utah House 65-6.
Representative McKay, presenting the bill, described a policy change responding to insurance claims arising from use of school facilities as civic centers. "The bill says that from now on, when a school permits a use of the school for non school purposes, it will have governmental immunity for injuries that arise from that use," McKay said, adding that the sponsoring organization — for example, a political party or youth sports group — would not share the school's immunity.
Opponents on the floor argued immunity could reduce incentives to maintain safe facilities. Representative King asked how granting immunity increases the likelihood that schools will maintain safe grounds; McKay said he thought schools would continue to maintain high standards and that reducing school liability would preserve civic access by limiting insurance costs. Representative Vandereyk recounted a caucus meeting injury and explained standard practice was to provide insurance certificates to school districts, expressing support for the bill.
After debate and summation, the clerk announced the vote: 65 yes, 6 no. The bill will be signed by the Speaker and returned to the Senate for the president's signature.
