Source: http://wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB446%20INTR.htm&yr=2018&sesstype=RS&i=446
Timestamp: 2020-02-20 13:32:57
Document Index: 314762042

Matched Legal Cases: ['§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19']

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §19-36-1, §19-36-2, §19-36-3, §19-36-4, and §19-36-5, all relating to agritourism; stating legislative purpose; defining terms; establishing duties of agritourism business; establishing duties of participants of agritourism; establishing liability for agritourism; mandating agritourism business post a warning on signs and contracts; and disallowing agritourism business from invoking immunity when warning language not used.
ARTICLE 36. AGROTOURISM.
§19-36-1. Legislative purposes.
Every year, in rapidly increasing numbers, the inhabitants of the State of West Virginia and nonresidents are enjoying the recreational value of West Virginia’s many agrotourism venues. The tourist trade is of vital importance to the State of West Virginia and the services offered by agrotourism significantly contribute to the economy of the State of West Virginia. The Legislature recognizes that there are inherent risks in the recreational activities provided by agrotourism which should be understood by each participant. It is essentially impossible for agrotourism to eliminate these risks. It is the purpose of this article to define those areas of responsibility and affirmative acts for which agrotourism are liable for loss, damage or injury.
(1) Agrotourism - any activity at an agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural, or forestry operation for the purpose of enjoyment, history, education or participation in agrotourism activities including, but not limited to, pick-your-own farms, farmer markets, wineries, distilleries, tours, education barns, on-farm historical reenactments, farm schools, living history farms, on-farm heirloom plants and animals, agricultural processing demonstrations, on-farm collections of old farm machinery, agricultural festivals, on-farm theme playgrounds for children, on-farm fee fishing, farm vacations, on-farm pumpkin patches, on-farm mazes, farm tours, on-farm food sales, hayrides, and crop art activities, and an activity involving an animal or farm product exhibition at an agricultural fair and trail riding/equine programs.
(2) Agrotourism business - Any individual, fiduciary, firm, association, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, unit of government, or any other group acting as a unit who is engaged in the business of providing one or more agrotourism activities, whether or not for compensation.
(3) Inherent risks of agrotourism activity - Those dangers or conditions that are an integral part of an agrotourism activity including certain hazards, including surface and subsurface conditions, natural conditions of land, vegetation, and waters, the behavior of wild or domestic animals, and ordinary dangers of structures or equipment ordinarily used in farming and ranching operations. Inherent risks of agrotourism activity also include the potential of a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to the participant or others, including failing to follow instructions given by the agrotourism professional or failing to exercise reasonable caution while engaging in the agrotourism activity.
(4) Participant - Any person, other than the agrotourism professional, who engages in an agrotourism activity.
§19-36-3. Duties of agrotourism.
(a) All agrotourism businesses offering professional services in this state shall provide facilities, equipment and services as advertised or as agreed to by the agrotourism outfitter, agrotourism guide and the participant. All services, facilities and equipment provided by agrotourism outfitters and agrotourism guides in this state shall conform to safety and other requirements set forth in §19-2-1 et seq. of this code and in the rules promulgated by the agrotourism advisory board created by §19-2-23a of this code.
(b) In addition to the duties set forth in subsection (a) of this section, all agrotourism guides providing services for whitewater activities in this state shall, while providing such services, conform to the standard of care expected of members of their profession.
(a) Participants have a duty to act as would a reasonably prudent person when engaging in recreational activities offered by agrotourism businesses in this state.
(1) Board upon or embark upon any agrotourism activity when intoxicated or under the influence of nonintoxicating beer, intoxicating beverages or controlled substances; or
(2) Fail to advise the agrotourism business of any known health problems or medical disability and any prescribed medication that may be used in the treatment of such health problems during the course of the agrotourism activity; or
(4) Perform any act which interferes with the safe running and operation of the activity, including failure to use safety equipment provided by the agrotourism business or failure to follow the instructions in regard to the safety measures and conduct requested of the participants; or
(5) Fail to inform or notify the agrotourism business of any incident or accident involving personal injury or illness experienced during the course of any agrotourism activity. If such injury or illness occurs, the participant shall leave personal identification, including name and address, with the agrotourism business' agent or employee.
§19-36-5. Liability of agrotourism businesses.
(a) It is recognized that some recreational activities conducted by agrotourism business guides are hazardous to participants regardless of all feasible safety measures which can be taken.
(1) No agrotourism business agent or employee acting in the course of his or her employment is liable to a participant for damages or injuries to such participant unless such damage or injury was directly caused by failure of the agrotourism business to comply with duties placed on him or her by the provisions of this article.
(2) The limitations on liability created by this article apply only to agrotourism business agent or employee are acting within the course of his or her employment.
(3) Every agrotourism business must post and maintain signs that contain the warning notice specified in subsection (b) of this section. The sign must be placed in a clearly visible location at the entrance to the agrotourism location and at the site of the agrotourism activity. The warning notice must consist of a sign in black letters, with each letter to be a minimum of one inch in height. Every written contract entered into by an agrotourism professional for the providing of professional services, instruction, or the rental of equipment to a participant, whether or not the contract involves agrotourism activities on or off the location or at the site of the agrotourism activity, must contain in clearly readable print the warning notice specified in subsection (b) of this section.
Under West Virginia law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agrotourism activity conducted at this agrotourism business if the injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agrotourism activity. Inherent risks of agrotourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to landscape, terrain, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agrotourism activity.
(c) Failure to comply with the requirements concerning warning signs and notices provided in this subsection will prevent an agrotourism business from invoking the privileges of immunity provided by this article.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill relates to agrotourism; states legislative purpose; defines terms; establishes duties of agrotourism business, establishes duties of participants of agrotourism; establishes liability for agrotourism; mandates agrotourism business post a warning on signs and contracts; and disallows agrotourism business from invoking immunity when warning language not used.