SB0057 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 02744 RPM 42766 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB0057

Introduced 1/27/2011, by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Ski Slope Safety Act. Provides that every ski area operator shall ensure that skiers and snowboarders are not permitted to enter ski areas without protective helmets and requires all skiers and snowboarders to wear protective helmets while in a ski area. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall adopt reasonable rules to enforce compliance with the Act. Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Ski Slope Safety Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Public Health.

"Director" means the Director of Public Health.

"Ski area" means all ski slopes, ski trails, and passenger tramways administered as a single enterprise within this State.

"Ski area operator" means a person, firm, or corporation, and its agents and employees, having operational and administrative responsibility for any ski area, including any agency of the State, any political subdivision thereof, and any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

"Ski slopes and trails" mean those areas designated by the ski area operator for skiing.

"Skier" means any person wearing a ski or skis in a ski area for the purpose of skiing.

"Snowboarder" means any person on a snowboard in a ski area for the purpose of snowboarding.

Section 10. Protective helmet wear in ski areas.

(a) Every ski area operator shall:

(i) ensure that skiers and snowboarders are not permitted to enter the ski area without a protective helmet;

(ii) make available to the public, for sale or lease, protective helmets;

(iii) post in a location likely to be seen by all skiers and snowboarders signs of such size and color as will enable skiers and snowboarders to have knowledge of their responsibilities under this Act;

(iv) make available at reasonable fees instruction and education for skiers and snowboarders relative to the risks inherent to skiing and snowboarding and the duties prescribed under this Act and conspicuously post notice of the times and places of availability of such instruction and education in locations likely to be seen by all skiers and snowboarders; and

(v) make available at reasonable fees educational literature regarding injury prevention.

(b) All skiers and snowboarders shall wear a protective helmet while in a ski area.

Section 15. Penalties.

(a) If the director finds that a ski area operator has knowingly violated the provisions of this Act, then the director shall impose a fine of $100 for the first such violation and $200 for a second or subsequent violation.

(b) The Director shall adopt reasonable rules to enforce compliance with this Act.