CSHB 41(JUD): "An Act relating to civil liability for skiing accidents, operation of ski areas, and duties of ski area operators and skiers; and providing for an effective date."
00CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 41(JUD) 01 "An Act relating to civil liability for skiing accidents, operation of ski areas, and 02 duties of ski area operators and skiers; and providing for an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) The legislature finds that 05 (1) the sport of skiing is practiced by a large number of citizens of the state 06 and also attracts a large number of nonresidents, providing significant contributions to the 07 economy of the state through construction and operation of skiing facilities, and through the 08 money spent by citizens of the state and nonresidents; 09 (2) the sport of skiing serves important public social and policy goals in the 10 state given the dominance of the winter season; skiing contributes to the health and well-being 11 of Alaskans, including the physically and mentally challenged; it is highly desirable and 12 necessary that Alaskans have convenient and inexpensive access to the sport of skiing; 13 (3) skiing is an active sport conducted in the outdoor alpine environment; this 14 environment consists of several elements, including terrain, weather, snow conditions, and
01 amenities created and maintained by the ski area operator; 02 (4) the terrain necessary for downhill skiing is characterized by large amounts 03 of land, that vary tremendously in steepness and feature bumps, hillocks, drops, cliffs, gullies, 04 ridges, and knobs of infinite variety; the surface and subsurface include trees, bushes, 05 undergrowth, rocks, stumps, branches, roots, and other debris; 06 (5) weather that produces the snow necessary for skiing also produces factors 07 that complicate the sport; weather varies from sunny and warm to bitterly cold and windy, 08 with various forms of precipitation, including sleet, hail, varieties of snow, fog, mist, drizzle, 09 rain, and showers; weather complicates the snow surface by constantly altering the snow 10 consistency and snow level, covering, uncovering, and sculpting the terrain features described 11 above; 12 (6) snow is a generic term covering a wide variety of solid precipitation and 13 the frozen state of water as it exists and evolves on the ground; there are many different kinds 14 of snow precipitation; in addition, snow on the ground is constantly changing until it either 15 melts or sublimates; this metamorphism depends on many variable factors and produces snow 16 of substantially different texture and consistency, often in short periods of time; on any given 17 day, the snow conditions vary substantially from location to location and from time to time 18 during the day; 19 (7) in order to facilitate the sport, ski area operators construct facilities, 20 including ski runs, trails, roads, aerial tramways, snowmaking equipment, buildings, and signs; 21 while these facilities may alter the natural conditions, the facilities are obvious and necessary 22 to the sport; 23 (8) because of the size, power, and variation of the winter alpine environment, 24 ski area operators are financially and physically incapable of controlling all the conditions 25 under which skiing takes place; 26 (9) ski area operators have a limited ability to alter terrain features; some 27 terrain features may offer a hazard to the skier but at the same time offer additional challenge 28 or enjoyment for skiers; there will always be natural and artificial hazards in the sport of 29 skiing and the skier must accept these hazards as a part of the risk of skiing; 30 (10) ski area operators do not have control over natural weather conditions; 31 (11) under the proper weather conditions, ski area operators can and do make
01 a form of snow and can spread the snow on the surface of the terrain; however, it is not 02 possible nor is it desirable to groom all snow to a particular finish; 03 (12) skiing is an exhilarating sport, the enjoyment of which includes several 04 components: exercise, enjoyment of the outdoor environment, physical and mental challenge 05 of a sporting activity, companionship of family and friends, and the excitement of taking 06 physical risks; 07 (13) falling is an ordinary, obvious, and necessary component of the sport; all 08 skiers, even expert skiers, fall on all kinds of terrain; a particular fall is no indication of the 09 risks of a particular slope or set of conditions; the same factors that offer the excitement of 10 skiing contribute to its inherent risks; skiers may slide when they fall, and they may encounter 11 obstacles or other skiers; skiers can be injured while skiing due to the intrinsic risks of the 12 sport, whether natural or man-made. 13 (b) The purpose of this Act is to repeal and revise state law relating to skiing enacted 14 by ch. 80, SLA 1980, as interpreted by the Alaska Supreme Court in Hiibschman v. City of 15 Valdez, 821 P.2d 1354, (Alaska 1991). It is also the purpose of this Act to 16 (1) define the responsibilities of ski area operators and their agents and 17 employees; 18 (2) define the responsibilities of skiers using ski areas; 19 (3) define those areas of responsibility and affirmative acts for which ski area 20 operators may be liable for loss, damage, injury, or death, and to define those risks that the 21 skier expressly assumes as an inherent danger and risk of skiing; and 22 (4) provide that where an injury is the result only of an inherent risk of skiing, 23 a comparative negligence or comparative fault analysis does not apply. 24 * Sec. 2. AS 05 is amended by adding a new chapter to read: 25 CHAPTER 45. SKI LIABILITY, SAFETY, AND RESPONSIBILITY. 26 Sec. 05.45.010. LIMITATION ON ACTIONS ARISING FROM SKIING; 27 APPORTIONMENT OF FAULT. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 28 person may not bring an action against a ski area operator for an injury resulting from 29 an inherent danger and risk of skiing. 30 Sec. 05.45.020. VIOLATIONS THAT CONSTITUTE NEGLIGENCE. (a) 31 A person who violates a requirement of this chapter is negligent and civilly liable to
01 the extent the violation causes injury to a person or damage to property. 02 (b) A ski area operator who violates a requirement of this chapter or a 03 regulation adopted by the Department of Labor under AS 05.20.070 is negligent and 04 civilly liable to the extent the violation causes injury to a person or damage to 05 property. 06 Sec. 05.45.030. DUTIES OF PASSENGERS. (a) A passenger may not board 07 a tramway if the passenger does not have 08 (1) sufficient physical dexterity or ability and knowledge to negotiate 09 or use the facility safely; or 10 (2) the assistance of a person authorized by the ski area operator to 11 assist a skier. 12 (b) A passenger may not 13 (1) embark upon or disembark from a tramway except at a designated 14 area unless reasonably necessary to prevent injury to the passenger or others; this 15 paragraph does not apply if the tramway stops and the operator assists the passengers 16 to disembark from the tramway; 17 (2) intentionally throw or expel an object from a tramway while riding 18 on the tramway, except as permitted by the operator; 19 (3) act while riding on a tramway in a manner that may interfere with 20 proper or safe operation of the tramway; 21 (4) engage in conduct that may contribute to or cause injury to a 22 person; 23 (5) intentionally place in an uphill track of a J-bar, T-bar, platter pull, 24 rope tow, or another surface lift an object that could cause another skier to fall; 25 (6) embark upon a tramway marked as closed; 26 (7) disobey instructions posted in accordance with this chapter or oral 27 instructions by the ski area operator regarding the proper or safe use of a tramway 28 unless the oral instructions are contrary to this chapter or contrary to posted 29 instructions. 30 Sec. 05.45.040. REQUIRED PLAN AND PATROL BY SKI AREA 31 OPERATORS. (a) A ski area operator shall prepare a plan of operation for each ski
01 season and shall implement the plan throughout the ski season. A plan of operation 02 must include provisions for ski patrol, avalanche control, avalanche rescue, grooming 03 procedures, tramway evacuation, hazard marking, missing person procedures, and first 04 aid. Before the operation of the ski area for that season, the plan shall be reviewed 05 and approved by the commissioner of natural resources except that if an agency of the 06 United States manages the land on which the ski area operates, the plan shall be 07 reviewed and approved by that agency. The commissioner of natural resources shall 08 adopt regulations to implement this subsection. 09 (b) A ski area operator shall provide a ski patrol with qualifications meeting 10 or exceeding the standards of the National Ski Patrol System, Inc. This subsection 11 does not apply to a ski area if the operator transports skiers using only a single 12 tramway consisting of a rope tow, the rope tow does not transport skiers more than 13 500 vertical feet, and the ski area is operated by a nonprofit corporation or a 14 municipality. In this subsection, "nonprofit corporation" means a corporation that 15 qualifies for exemption from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or (4) (Internal 16 Revenue Code). 17 (c) Notwithstanding any other law, the state and the commissioner of natural 18 resources are not civilly liable for damages resulting from an act or omission in 19 reviewing, approving, or disapproving a plan of operation under (a) of this section. 20 Sec. 05.45.050. REQUIRED SIGNS FOR TRAMWAYS; DUTIES OF 21 OPERATORS. (a) A ski area operator who operates a tramway shall maintain a sign 22 system with concise, simple, and pertinent information for the protection and 23 instruction of passengers. Signs shall be prominently placed on each tramway, 24 readable in conditions of ordinary visibility, and where applicable adequately lighted 25 for nighttime passengers. Signs shall be posted 26 (1) at or near the loading point of each tramway, regardless of the type, 27 advising that a person not familiar with the operation of the device must ask the 28 operator of the device for assistance and instruction; 29 (2) in the interior of each two-car and multicar tramway showing 30 (A) the maximum capacity in pounds of the car and the 31 maximum number of passengers allowed;
01 (B) instructions for procedures in emergencies; 02 (3) in a conspicuous place at each loading area of two-car and multicar 03 tramways stating the maximum capacity in pounds of the car and the maximum 04 number of passengers allowed; 05 (4) at all chair lifts stating the following: 06 (A) "Prepare to Unload," which shall be located not less than 07 50 feet ahead of the unloading area; 08 (B) "Keep Ski Tips Up," which shall be located ahead of any 09 point where the skis may come in contact with a platform or the snow surface; 10 (C) "Unload Here," which shall be located at the point 11 designated for unloading; 12 (D) "Stop Gate," which shall be located where applicable; 13 (E) "Remove Pole Straps from Wrists," which shall be located 14 prominently at each loading area; 15 (F) "Check for Loose Clothing and Equipment," which shall be 16 located before the "Prepare to Unload" sign; 17 (5) at all J-bars, T-bars, platter pulls, rope tows, and any other surface 18 lift, stating the following: 19 (A) "Remove Pole Straps from Wrists," which shall be placed 20 at or near the loading area; 21 (B) "Stay in Tracks," "Unload Here," and "Safety Gate," which 22 shall be located where applicable; 23 (C) "Prepare to Unload," which shall be located not less than 24 50 feet ahead of each unloading area; 25 (6) near the boarding area of all J-bars, T-bars, platter pulls, rope tows, 26 and any other surface lift, advising passengers to check to be certain that clothing, 27 scarves, and hair will not become entangled with the lift; 28 (7) at or near the boarding area of all lifts, stating the skier's duty set 29 out in AS 05.45.100(c)(2). 30 (b) Signs not specified by (a) of this section may be posted at the discretion 31 of the ski area operator.
01 (c) A ski area operator, before opening the tramway to the public each day, 02 shall inspect the tramway for the presence and visibility of the signs required by (a) 03 of this section. 04 (d) A ski area operator shall post and maintain signs that are required by (a) 05 of this section in a manner that they may be viewed during conditions of ordinary 06 visibility. 07 Sec. 05.45.060. REQUIRED SIGNS FOR TRAILS AND SLOPES; DUTIES 08 OF OPERATORS. (a) A ski area operator shall maintain a sign and marking system 09 as required in this section in addition to that required by AS 05.45.050. All signs 10 required by this section shall be maintained so as to be readable and recognizable 11 under conditions of ordinary visibility. 12 (b) A ski area operator shall post a sign recognizable to skiers proceeding to 13 the uphill loading point of each base area lift that depicts and explains signs and 14 symbols that the skier may encounter at the ski area. The sign must include the 15 following: 16 (1) the least difficult trails and slopes, designated by a green circle and 17 the word "easiest"; 18 (2) the most difficult trails and slopes, designated by a black diamond 19 and the words "most difficult"; 20 (3) the trails and slopes that have a degree of difficulty that falls 21 between the green circle and the black diamond designation, designated by a blue 22 square and the words "more difficult"; 23 (4) danger areas designated by a red exclamation point inside a yellow 24 triangle with a red band around the triangle and the word "danger" printed beneath the 25 emblem; 26 (5) closed trails or slopes designated by a sign with a red circle or 27 octagon around a white interior containing a black figure in the shape of a skier with 28 a black band running diagonally across the sign from the upper right-hand side to the 29 lower left-hand side and with the word "Closed" printed beneath the emblem. 30 (c) If applicable, a sign shall be placed at or near the loading point of each 31 tramway as follows:
01 WARNING: This lift services (most difficult) 02 or (most difficult and more difficult) or 03 (more difficult) slopes only. 04 (d) If a particular trail or slope or portion of a trail or slope is closed to the 05 public by a ski area operator, the operator shall place a sign notifying the public of 06 that fact at each identified entrance of each portion of the trail or slope involved. This 07 subsection does not apply if the trail or slope is closed with ropes or fences. 08 (e) A ski area operator shall 09 (1) place a sign at or near the beginning of each trail or slope, which 10 must contain the appropriate symbol of the relative degree of difficulty of that 11 particular trail or slope as described in (b) of this section; this paragraph does not 12 apply to a slope or trail designated "easiest" that to a skier is substantially visible in 13 its entirety under conditions of ordinary visibility before beginning to ski the slope or 14 trail; 15 (2) mark the ski area boundaries in a fashion readily visible to skiers 16 under conditions of ordinary visibility; 17 (3) mark that portion of the boundary with signs as required by (b)(5) 18 of this section if the owner of land adjoining a ski area closes all or part of the land 19 and advises the ski area operator of the closure; 20 (4) mark hydrants, water pipes, and all other man-made structures on 21 slopes and trails that are not readily visible to skiers under conditions of ordinary 22 visibility from a distance of at least 100 feet and adequately and appropriately cover 23 man-made structures that create obstructions with a shock absorbent material that will 24 lessen injuries; any type of marker is sufficient, including wooden poles, flags, or 25 signs, if the marker is visible from a distance of 100 feet and if the marker itself does 26 not constitute a serious hazard to skiers; in this paragraph, "man-made structures" does 27 not include variations in steepness or terrain, whether natural or as a result of slope 28 design, snow making, grooming operations, roads and catwalks, or other terrain 29 modifications; 30 (5) mark exposed forest growth, rocks, stumps, streambeds, trees, or 31 other natural objects that are located on a groomed slope or trail and that are not
01 readily visible to skiers under conditions of ordinary visibility from a distance of at 02 least 100 feet; 03 (6) mark roads, catwalks, cliffs, or other terrain modifications that are 04 not readily visible to skiers under conditions of ordinary visibility from a distance of 05 at least 100 feet; 06 (7) post and maintain signs that contain the warning notice specified 07 in (g) of this section; the notice shall be placed in a clearly visible location at the ski 08 area where lift tickets and ski school lessons are sold and in a position to be 09 recognizable as a sign to skiers proceeding to the uphill loading point of each base 10 area lift; the signs may not be smaller than three feet by three feet and must be white 11 with black and red letters as specified in this paragraph; the word "WARNING" must 12 appear on the sign in red letters; the warning notice specified in this paragraph must 13 appear on the sign in black letters with each letter to be a minimum of one inch in 14 height. 15 (f) A ski lift ticket sold or made available for sale to skiers by a ski area 16 operator must contain in clearly readable print the warning notice specified in (g) of 17 this section. 18 (g) The signs described in (e)(7) of this section and the lift tickets described 19 in (f) of this section must contain the following warning notice: 20 WARNING 21 Under Alaska law, the risk of an injury to person or property 22 resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing 23 rests with the skier. A skier may not recover from a ski area 24 operator for an injury resulting from any of the inherent dangers 25 and risks of skiing, including changing weather conditions; 26 existing and changing snow conditions; bare spots, rocks, 27 stumps and trees readily visible under ordinary visibility 28 conditions from a distance of at least 100 feet on groomed 29 slopes or trails; collisions with natural objects, man-made 30 objects, or other skiers; variations in terrain; and the failure of 31 skiers to ski within their own abilities.
01 Sec. 05.45.070. OTHER DUTIES OF SKI AREA OPERATORS. (a) A ski 02 area operator shall equip a motorized snow-grooming vehicle with a light visible at any 03 time the vehicle is moving on or in the vicinity of a ski slope or trail. 04 (b) When maintenance equipment is being employed to maintain or groom a 05 ski slope or trail while the ski slope or trail is open to the public, the ski area operator 06 shall place a conspicuous notice regarding the maintenance or grooming at or near the 07 top of that ski slope or trail. 08 (c) A snowmobile operated on the ski slope or trails of a ski area shall be 09 equipped with at least 10 (1) one lighted head lamp; 11 (2) one lighted red tail lamp; 12 (3) a brake system maintained in operable condition; and 13 (4) a fluorescent flag at least 40 square inches mounted at least six feet 14 above the bottom of the tracks. 15 (d) A ski area operator shall develop and maintain a written policy covering 16 situations involving reckless skiers, including a definition of reckless skiing, procedures 17 for approaching and warning skiers regarding reckless conduct, and procedures for 18 taking action against reckless skiers, including revocation of ski privileges. A ski area 19 operator shall designate ski patrol personnel responsible for implementing the ski area 20 operator's policy regarding reckless skiers. 21 (e) A ski area operator shall make available at reasonable fees, instruction and 22 education regarding the inherent danger and risk of skiing and the duties imposed on 23 skiers under this chapter. Notice of the times and places of the instruction and 24 education required under this subsection shall be conspicuously posted at locations 25 likely to be seen by skiers and printed on equipment rental agreements. 26 Sec. 05.45.080. SKIERS OUTSIDE MARKED BOUNDARIES. A ski area 27 operator does not have a duty arising out of the operator's status as a ski area operator 28 to a skier skiing beyond the area boundaries if the boundaries are marked as required 29 by AS 05.45.060(e)(2). 30 Sec. 05.45.090. REVOCATION OF SKIING PRIVILEGES. A ski area 31 operator, upon finding a person skiing in a careless and reckless manner, may revoke
01 that person's skiing privileges. This section may not be construed to create an 02 affirmative duty on the part of the ski area operator to protect skiers from their own 03 or from another skier's carelessness or recklessness. 04 Sec. 05.45.100. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SKIERS. (a) A 05 skier is responsible for knowing the range of the skier's own ability to negotiate a ski 06 slope or trail and to ski within the limits of the skier's ability. A skier is responsible 07 for an injury to a person or property resulting from an inherent danger and risk of 08 skiing, except that a skier is not precluded under this chapter from suing another skier 09 for an injury to person or property resulting from the other skier's acts or omissions. 10 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the risk of a skier's collision with another 11 skier is not an inherent danger or risk of skiing in an action by one skier against 12 another. 13 (b) A skier has the duty to maintain control of the skier's speed and course at 14 all times when skiing and to maintain a proper lookout so as to be able to avoid other 15 skiers and objects. However, a person skiing downhill has the primary duty to avoid 16 collision with a person or object below the skier. 17 (c) A skier may not 18 (1) ski on a ski slope or trail that has been posted as "Closed" under 19 AS 05.45.060(b)(5) and (d); 20 (2) use a ski unless the ski is equipped with a strap or other device 21 capable of stopping the ski should the ski become unattached from the skier; 22 (3) cross the uphill track of a J-bar, T-bar, platter pull, or rope tow 23 except at locations designated by the operator, or place an object in an uphill track; 24 (4) move uphill on a tramway or use a ski slope or trail while the 25 skier's ability is impaired by the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance as 26 defined in AS 11.71.900 or other drug; 27 (5) knowingly enter upon public or private land from an adjoining ski 28 area when the land has been closed by an owner and is posted by the owner or by the 29 ski area operator under AS 05.45.060(e)(3). 30 (d) A skier shall stay clear of snow grooming equipment, vehicles, lift towers, 31 signs, and other equipment on the ski slopes and trails.
01 (e) A skier has the duty to heed all posted information and other warnings and 02 to refrain from acting in a manner that may cause or contribute to the injury of the 03 skier or others. Evidence that the signs required by AS 05.45.050 and 05.45.060 were 04 present, visible, and readable at the beginning of a given day creates a presumption 05 that all skiers using the ski area on that day have seen and understood the signs. 06 (f) Before beginning to ski from a stationary position or before entering a ski 07 slope or trail from the side, a skier has the duty to avoid moving skiers already on the 08 ski slope or trail. 09 (g) A skier involved in a collision with another skier or person that results in 10 an injury may not leave the vicinity of the collision before giving the skier's name and 11 current address to an employee of the ski area operator or a member of the voluntary 12 ski patrol, except for the purpose of securing aid for a person injured in the collision. 13 A person who leaves the scene of a collision to obtain aid shall give the person's name 14 and current address as required by this subsection after obtaining aid. 15 (h) A person who violates a provision of (c) or (g) of this section is guilty of 16 a violation as defined in AS 11.81.900. The commissioner of natural resources or an 17 employee of the Department of Natural Resources authorized by the commissioner may 18 issue a citation in accordance with the provisions of AS 41.21.960 to a person who 19 violates (c) or (g) of this section on state land. 20 Sec. 05.45.200. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, 21 (1) "base area lift" means a tramway that skiers ordinarily use without 22 first using some other tramway; 23 (2) "conditions of ordinary visibility" means daylight or nighttime in 24 nonprecipitating weather; 25 (3) "groomed slope or trail" means that portion of a slope or trail that 26 is regularly packed and prepared for skiing by a ski area operator with an over-the-snow vehicle and attached 27 implements, and that has been packed or prepared within 28 the previous 12 hours; 29 (4) "inherent danger and risk of skiing" means a danger or condition 30 that is an integral part of the sport of skiing, including changing weather conditions; 31 snow conditions as they exist or may change, including ice, hard pack, powder, packed
01 powder, wind pack, corn, crust, slush, cut-up snow, and machine-made snow; surface 02 or subsurface conditions including bare spots, forest growth, rocks, stumps, streambeds, 03 and trees, or other natural objects, and collisions with natural objects; impact with lift 04 towers, signs, posts, fences or enclosures, hydrants, water pipes, other man-made 05 structures, and their components; variations in steepness or terrain, whether natural or 06 as a result of slope design, snowmaking or grooming operations, including roads and 07 catwalks or other terrain modifications; collision with other skiers; and the failure of 08 skiers to ski within their own abilities; the term "inherent danger and risk of skiing" 09 does not include the negligence of a ski area operator under AS 05.45.020(b), or acts 10 or omissions of a ski area operator involving the use or operation of ski lifts; 11 (5) "injury" means property damage, personal injury, or death; 12 (6) "passenger" means a person who is lawfully using a tramway; 13 (7) "ski area" means all downhill ski slopes or trails and other places 14 under the control of a downhill ski area operator; "ski area" does not include a cross-country ski trail; 15 (8) "ski area operator" means a person having operational responsibility 16 for a downhill ski area, and includes an agency of the state or a political subdivision 17 of the state; 18 (9) "skier" means an individual using a downhill ski area for the 19 purpose of 20 (A) skiing; 21 (B) sliding downhill on snow or ice on skis, a toboggan, a sled, 22 a tube, a ski-bob, a snowboard, or another skiing device; or 23 (C) using any of the facilities of a ski area, including ski slopes 24 and trails; 25 (10) "ski slopes or trails" means those areas designated by a ski area 26 operator to be used by a skier; 27 (11) "tramway" means a device that is a passenger tramway, aerial or 28 surface lift, ski lift, or rope tow regulated under AS 05.20. 29 Sec. 05.45.210. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the Alaska Ski 30 Safety Act of 1993. 31 * Sec. 3. AS 09.65.135 and AS 18.60.822 are repealed.
01 * Sec. 4. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).