2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1,
TO 2011 SENATE BILL 388
February 21, 2012 - Offered by Senator Grothman.
SB388-SSA1,1,4 1An Act to amend 101.12 (1) (c), 101.19 (1) (b), 101.981 (1) (c) and 895.525 (2);
2and to create 101.19 (1) (bm), 167.33 and 895.526 of the statutes; relating to:
3 duties of ski area operators and participants in snow sports, liability of ski area
4operators, and granting rule-making authority.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB388-SSA1, s. 1 5Section 1. 101.12 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB388-SSA1,1,76 101.12 (1) (c) Elevators, escalators, ski lift and towing devices lifts, as defined
7in s. 167.33 (1) (f),
and power dumbwaiters.
SB388-SSA1, s. 2 8Section 2. 101.19 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB388-SSA1,1,129 101.19 (1) (b) The required inspection of boilers, pressure vessels, refrigeration
10plants, liquefied petroleum gas vessels, anhydrous ammonia tanks and containers,
11ski lift and towing devices, escalators, dumbwaiters, and amusement or thrill rides
12but not of amusement attractions.
SB388-SSA1, s. 3
1Section 3. 101.19 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB388-SSA1,2,32 101.19 (1) (bm) The inspection by the department of lifts, as defined in s. 167.33
3(1) (f).
SB388-SSA1, s. 4 4Section 4. 101.981 (1) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32,
5is amended to read:
SB388-SSA1,2,136 101.981 (1) (c) "Conveyance" means an elevator, an escalator, a dumbwaiter,
7a belt manlift, a moving walkway, a platform lift, and a stairway chair lift, and any
8other similar device, such as an automated people mover, used to elevate or move
9people or things, as provided in the rules of the department. "Conveyance" does not
10include a personnel hoist; a material hoist; a grain elevator; a lift or towing device
11as defined in s. 167.33 (1) (f); an amusement or thrill ride; or a vertical platform lift,
12inclined platform lift, or a stairway chair lift that serves an individual residential
13dwelling unit.
SB388-SSA1, s. 5 14Section 5. 167.33 of the statutes is created to read:
SB388-SSA1,2,15 15167.33 Snow sports. (1) Definitions. In this section:
SB388-SSA1,2,1616 (a) "Affiliate" means:
SB388-SSA1,2,1717 1. With respect to a partnership, each partner thereof.
SB388-SSA1,2,1818 2. With respect to a limited liability company, each member thereof.
SB388-SSA1,2,2019 3. With respect to a corporation, each officer, director, principal stockholder,
20and controlling member thereof.
SB388-SSA1,2,2321 (b) "Competition" means any event authorized by a ski area operator, or by an
22agent of a ski area operator, that involves a comparison of skills used in one or more
23snow sports. "Competition" includes training sessions for such an event.
SB388-SSA1,3,3
1(c) "Freestyle features" means man-made features that include boxes, jumps,
2hits, jibs, tabletops, spikes, take-off ramps, landings, banks, half pipes, picnic tables,
3logs, and pipes.
SB388-SSA1,3,54 (d) "Freestyling" means mogul jumping, mogul skiing, ski jumping, aerial
5skiing, ski cross, ski ballet, snowboarding, and any other similar snow sport.
SB388-SSA1,3,86 (e) "Hazard" means any man-made or natural obstacle or hazard. "Hazard"
7includes ridges, sharp corners, jumps, bumps, moguls, valleys, dips, cliffs, ravines,
8and bodies of water.
SB388-SSA1,3,109 (f) "Lift" means any aerial tramway or lift, a surface lift, a tow, or a conveyor
10used by a ski area operator to transport participants in snow sports at a ski area.
SB388-SSA1,3,1711 (g) "Participant in a snow sport" means an individual who is engaged in a snow
12sport or who is walking or otherwise traveling within a ski area for purposes of
13engaging in the sport. "Participant in a snow sport" also means an individual who
14is present at a ski area to observe others engaged in a snow sport or who is a
15passenger on a lift. "Participant in a snow sport" includes an individual that is an
16employee of a ski area operator when he or she is acting outside the scope of his or
17her employment.
SB388-SSA1,3,2018 (h) "Ski area" means trails, terrains, and other outdoor areas that are used by
19individuals engaged in snow sports and that is administered as a single enterprise
20by a ski area operator.
SB388-SSA1,3,2321 (i) "Ski area infrastructure" means lifts and any associated components,
22snowmaking equipment and any associated components, and utility structures,
23buildings, huts, signs, lift mazes, fences, or other structures located within a ski area.
SB388-SSA1,4,3
1(j) "Ski area operator" means a person that owns or is responsible for operating
2a ski area or its affiliates. "Ski area operator" includes the employees and agents of
3a ski area operator.
SB388-SSA1,4,54 (k) "Ski area vehicle" means a motorized vehicle used in the operation and
5maintenance of a ski area or used as transportation within a ski area.
SB388-SSA1,4,76 (L) "Skiing" means downhill skiing, alpine skiing, nordic skiing, cross-country
7skiing, telemarking, snowshoeing, or snowboarding.
SB388-SSA1,4,98 (m) "Sledding" means sliding down a prepared course on sleds, toboggans, ski
9bikes, or comparable devices. "Sledding" excludes tubing.
SB388-SSA1,4,1110 (n) "Snowmaking equipment" includes pipes, hoses, hydrants, snow guns, fans,
11wands, pumps, and any other equipment associated with making snow.
SB388-SSA1,4,1212 (o) "Snow sport" means skiing, sledding, tubing, or freestyling.
SB388-SSA1,4,1413 (p) "Tree skiing area" means an area open to skiing, that is not groomed for
14skiing, and that is forested.
SB388-SSA1,4,1615 (q) "Tubing" means sliding down a prepared course on inflatable tubes,
16minibobs, or comparable devices.
SB388-SSA1,4,18 17(2) Conditions and risks of snow sports. For purposes of this section,
18conditions and risks consist of all of the following:
SB388-SSA1,4,1919 (a) Changes in weather or visibility.
SB388-SSA1,4,2120 (b) The presence of surface or subsurface conditions, including any of the
21following:
SB388-SSA1,4,2322 1. Snow, ice, crust, slush, soft spots, holes, grooves, bare spots, cuts, rocks,
23boulders, or tracks from ski area vehicles.
SB388-SSA1,4,2424 2. Forest growth or debris, including stumps, logs, or brush.
SB388-SSA1,5,2
1(c) Ridges, sharp corners, bumps, moguls, valleys, rollers, dips, cliffs, ravines,
2and double fall lines.
SB388-SSA1,5,53 (d) Variations in the difficulty of terrain, surface conditions, or subsurface
4conditions on a single trail or terrain or among trails or terrains that are designated
5the same level of difficulty at the ski area or at another ski area.
SB388-SSA1,5,76 (e) The risk of injury or death on trails and terrains that fall away or drop off
7toward hazards.
SB388-SSA1,5,98 (f) The risk of collision with other participants in snow sports. employees of a
9ski area operator, ski area infrastructure, or ski area vehicles.
SB388-SSA1,5,1110 (g) Variation in the location, construction, configuration, or steepness of trails
11or terrains.
SB388-SSA1,5,1312 (h) The greater risk of collision, injury, or death in treed areas, in areas where
13competitions are held, and in areas where freestyling is allowed.
SB388-SSA1,5,16 14(3) Duties of ski area operators; signage; notice. (a) Notice on tickets
15required.
Each ski area operator shall print on each ticket or season pass that it
16issues to participants in snow sports the following warning:
SB388-SSA1,5,23 17"WARNING: Under Wisconsin law, each participant in a snow sport assumes
18the risk of injury or death to person or injury to property resulting from the
19conditions and risks that are considered to be inherent in a snow sport, has a number
20of duties that must be met while engaging in a snow sport, and is subject to
21limitations on the ability to recover damages from a ski area operator for injuries or
22death to a person or to property. A complete copy of this law is available for review
23at the main site where tickets to this ski area are sold."
SB388-SSA1,6,324 (b) Signs required; generally. Each ski area operator shall post and maintain
25a sign that is at least 10 square feet in size at or near each of the sites where tickets

1to the ski area are sold, at or near each of the entrances or lift loading areas for areas
2that are open to snow sports, and at or near each area open to sledding or tubing
3which is not served by a lift. The sign shall contain the following warning:
SB388-SSA1,6,11 4"WARNING — ASSUMPTION OF RISKS: Under Wisconsin law, each
5participant in a snow sport is considered to have accepted and to have knowledge of
6the risk of injury or death to person or injury to property that may result. Under
7Wisconsin law, each participant in a snow sport has the duty to take the precautions
8that are necessary to avoid injury or death to person or injury to property. Wisconsin
9law sets forth certain other limitations on the liability of ski area operators for
10injuries or death to person or injury to property. A complete copy of this law is
11available for review at the main site where tickets to this ski area are sold."
SB388-SSA1,6,1412 (c) Copies of law. Each ski area operator shall post and maintain a current copy
13of all of the provisions of this section at the main site where tickets to the ski area
14are sold and shall make a copy of it for any individual upon request.
SB388-SSA1,6,1815 (d) Signs required; skiing or sledding areas. In addition to the sign required
16under par. (b), each ski area operator shall post and maintain a sign that is at least
1710 square feet in size at or near each entrance to a loading area of a lift that serves
18areas open to skiing or sledding. The sign shall contain the following warning:
SB388-SSA1,6,21 19"WARNING — DUTIES OF INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN SKIING OR
20SLEDDING: Under Wisconsin law, each individual engaged in skiing or sledding
21has a duty to do all of the following:
SB388-SSA1,6,2222 1. Obey all posted warnings and signs.
SB388-SSA1,6,2323 2. Keep off of closed trails and out of closed areas.
SB388-SSA1,6,2524 3. Know the range of his or her ability and engage in skiing or sledding within
25that ability.
SB388-SSA1,7,2
14. Assess the difficulty of the trails and terrains that are open to skiing or
2sledding.
SB388-SSA1,7,33 5. Maintain control of his or her speed and direction.
SB388-SSA1,7,44 6. Be able to stop or avoid other individuals or objects.
SB388-SSA1,7,65 7. Yield to other individuals engaged in skiing or sledding who are ahead or who
6are down the slope.
SB388-SSA1,7,87 8. Not stop at a point that will result in the individual obstructing a trail or not
8being visible from above.
SB388-SSA1,7,109 9. Yield to other individuals engaged in skiing or sledding who are uphill when
10starting downhill or when merging onto a trail.
SB388-SSA1,7,1211 10. Be able to safely board, ride, and deboard any lift serving an area open to
12skiing or sledding.
SB388-SSA1,7,1313 11. Board and deboard a lift only at designated sites."
SB388-SSA1,7,1814 (e) Signs required; tubing areas. In addition to the sign required under par. (b),
15each ski area operator shall post and maintain a sign that is at least 10 square feet
16in size at or near each entrance to a loading area of a lift that serves areas open to
17tubing or at or near an entrance of an area open to tubing that is not served by a lift.
18The sign shall contain the following warning:
SB388-SSA1,7,21 19"WARNING — DUTIES OF INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN TUBING: Under
20Wisconsin law, each individual engaged in sledding has a duty to do all of the
21following:
SB388-SSA1,7,2222 1. Obey all posted warnings and signs.
SB388-SSA1,7,2323 2. Keep out of closed areas.
SB388-SSA1,7,2424 3. Know the range of his or her ability and engage in tubing within that ability.
SB388-SSA1,7,2525 4. Assess the difficulty of the terrain that is open to tubing.
SB388-SSA1,8,2
15. Maintain control of the speed and direction of the tube or other device that
2is being used.
SB388-SSA1,8,43 6. Comply with any posted limits imposed on the number of passengers or on
4the amount of weight of the tube or other device while it is being ridden.
SB388-SSA1,8,65 7. Be able to safely board, ride, and deboard any lift serving an area open to
6tubing.
SB388-SSA1,8,77 8. Board and deboard a lift only at designated sites.
SB388-SSA1,8,98 9. Yield to other individuals engaged in tubing who are ahead or who are down
9the the slope.
SB388-SSA1,8,1110 10. Look uphill and yield to oncoming tubes before leaving the bottom of the
11hill at the end of a run.
SB388-SSA1,8,1812 (f) Signs required; trails and terrains. Each ski area operator shall designate
13the trails that are open for skiing in its ski area and shall determine the difficulty
14level of each trail. The ski area operator shall post and maintain a sign at or near
15the beginning of each trail. The sign shall contain the name of the trail and all of the
16applicable wording and emblems specified in this paragraph to describe the difficulty
17level of the trail or terrain. The sign shall be at least 4 square feet in size. Each sign
18shall contain one or more of the following designations that are applicable:
SB388-SSA1,8,1919 1. The word "easier" with an emblem consisting of a green circle.
SB388-SSA1,8,2120 2. The words "difficult" or "more difficult" with an emblem consisting of a blue
21square.
SB388-SSA1,8,2222 3. The words "most difficult" with an emblem consisting of a black diamond.
SB388-SSA1,8,2423 4. The word "expert" or "extreme" with an emblem consisting of 2 black
24diamonds.
SB388-SSA1,9,2
15. The words "freestyling area ahead" with an emblem consisting of an orange
2oval.
SB388-SSA1,9,63 6. The words "tree skiing — caution." The sign shall have an orange
4background or orange lettering with a black or white background and shall contain
5the additional statement: "This back country trail is not groomed or patrolled —
6Never ski here alone."
SB388-SSA1,9,157 (g) Areas open to freestyling; signs and barricades required. A ski area operator
8shall designate an area as an area for freestyling if it contains one or more freestyle
9features. A ski area operator shall construct and maintain a barricade with fencing,
10roping, or similar means at the entrance to such an area. The opening in the
11barricade may not be wider than 30 feet. The ski area operator shall post and
12maintain a sign at or near the entrance of the area that is at least 3 square feet in
13size and that shows the boundaries of the area open to freestyling. The sign shall
14contain emblems consisting of a stop sign and orange oval. The sign shall contain
15all of the following:
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