s_agr_2017a_2017-02-09t13:32:40z3 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/09/2017

Location: SCR 357

03:50 PM -- SB 17-100



Senator Sonnenberg, Prime Sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-100 concerning immunity for land stewardship volunteers and distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment E). This bill amends the Colorado Recreational Trails System Act of 1971 to include legal protections for volunteers and nonprofits who perform land stewardship on public lands. The bill provides immunity from civil liability for volunteers for any act or omission that results in damage or injury if the volunteer was acting within the scope of his or her duties performing land stewardship activities under a grant, unless the damage or injury was caused by gross negligence or a willful and wanton act or omission.



170209 AttachE.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



03:53 PM -- Margaret Taylor, Division of Parks and Wildlife, spoke in support of the bill. She also identified volunteer trail programs administered by the division and the cost of liability insurance.



03:56 PM -- Dianna Orf, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.



03:56 PM -- Tom Morrissey, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed importance of recreational trails in Colorado. He also discussed the cost of obtaining liability insurance for volunteers.



03:59 PM -- Jen Boulton, Audubon Society, spoke in support of the bill.



04:01 PM -- Jerry Abboud, Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, spoke in support of the bill.



04:03 PM -- Conrad Tucker, Western Slope ATV Association, spoke in support of the bill and expressed concern about the ability of his association to obtain liability insurance.



04:06 PM



The chair closed testimony on the bill, and Senator Sonnenberg closed his remarks.