SKI PATROL: IMMUNITY S.B. 470 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 470 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole) Sponsor: Senator Walter H. North
Committee: Judiciary
The bill would amend the Good Samaritan law to revise the circumstances under which immunity is granted to members of the national ski patrol. The law provides that a registered member of the national ski patrol system who, in good faith and while acting as a member of the ski patrol, renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency is not liable for civil damages as a result of acts or omissions in rendering care, except for "gross negligence" or willful and wanton misconduct. The bill would delete “while acting as a member of the national ski patrol system” from that provision, and would exclude from immunity a service, act, or omission that was outside the scope of the services and activities for which the ski patrol member had received training. Also, under the bill, "gross negligence" would mean conduct so reckless that it demonstrated a substantial lack of concern for whether injury resulted.
The bill would not apply if a ski patrol member who rendered emergency care at the scene of an emergency were at that scene in a capacity other than as a ski patrol member and was not receiving compensation for rendering the care.
MCL 691.1507 Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 9-26-95 Fiscal Analyst: M. Bain
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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.