SB777: Bill Text

LRB-3452/1

MDK&SWB:skw

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 777

February 6, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Larson and Bewley, cosponsored by Representatives Brostoff, Sinicki, Bowen, Stubbs, Tusler and C. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal Relations.

SB777,1,3 An Act to create 101.122 and 101.19 (1g) (ar) of the statutes; relating to: regulating trampoline parks, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Subject to specified exemptions, this bill prohibits a person from operating a trampoline park without an annual license issued by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. The bill defines “trampoline park” as a place of business that, for a fee, offers the recreational use of a “trampoline court,” which is defined as an area comprising either 1) multiple commercial trampolines or 2) at least one commercial trampoline and at least one associated foam or inflatable bag pit. A “commercial trampoline” is defined as a device incorporating a flexible surface that is used for recreational jumping, springing, bouncing, acrobatics, or gymnastics.

For license issuance or renewal, the operator of a trampoline park must pay a fee specified in rules promulgated by DSPS. The operator must also submit a certificate of insurance demonstrating that the operator has liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 in the aggregate and $500,000 per incident to cover injuries to participants arising out of any negligence or misconduct by the operator or the trampoline park's staff in the construction, maintenance, or operation of the trampoline park. If the required insurance ever lapses, expires, or is cancelled, the operator must notify DSPS within 24 hours. The bill requires DSPS to promulgate rules for issuing and renewing licenses. As with other licenses issued by DSPS under current law, a person is not eligible for a license under the bill if the person is liable for delinquent taxes, unemployment insurance contributions, or child or spousal support.

The bill creates three exemptions from the above licensing requirement. First, if a playground is an incidental amenity operated by a school, city, village, town, or county, and the operator does not primarily derive revenue from operating the playground for a fee, the bill does not apply to the playground. Second, the bill also does not apply to a nonrecreational training or rehearsal facility for gymnastics, dance, cheer, or tumbling that satisfies specified requirements. Third, the bill does not apply to an inflatable ride, an inflatable bounce house, or equipment used exclusively for exercise.

The bill imposes the following duties on an operator of a trampoline park who is not subject to one of the above exemptions. First, the bill requires an operator to comply with industry standards regarding signage, safety procedures, education of risk, equipment, facilities, staff training and supervision, participant activities, operational issues, and statistical tracking of injuries. An operator must notify DSPS within 48 hours of any change in status regarding compliance with the foregoing duties. Second, an operator must prominently display signage on the trampoline park's rules. Third, an operator must develop, implement, and follow an in-house injury reporting system and emergency response plan and retain records related to that system and plan. Fourth, an operator must make information in that system and the foregoing records available for inspection and copying to DSPS, the Department of Health Services, a local health department, or any affected party.

If an operator violates the bill by failing to comply with any of the above duties, the bill allows DSPS to suspend or revoke the operator's license, but only after DSPS gives the operator an opportunity to cure the violation at least 60 days before the suspension or revocation. However, an opportunity to cure is not required for a repeat violation. The bill requires DSPS to promulgate rules specifying the timeline and process for curing a violation. The bill also requires DSPS to annually inspect trampoline parks and provide operators with written reports documenting the inspections.

The bill also imposes responsibilities on individuals who use trampoline parks, including reading and following all posted signs and warnings, avoiding bodily contact with other trampoliners or spectators, refraining from acting in a manner that may cause injury to others, and not participating in trampolining when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Under the bill, an individual who participates in trampolining also accepts certain dangers inherent in the activity. The bill defines those dangers to include risk of injuries that result from collisions with other trampoliners or spectators, injuries that result from falls, injuries that result from landing on the trampoline, pad, or platform, and injuries that involve objects or artificial structures properly within the intended travel of the trampoliner that are not otherwise attributable to the operator's breach of a duty under this section or under common law.

Under the bill, if a participant makes a claim against an operator for an injury resulting from an activity occurring at a trampoline park, the operator may raise compliance with the operator's responsibilities, the assumption of risks inherent to trampoline activities as described in the bill, or any failure by a participant to comply with the participant's responsibilities as a defense that the court or jury can consider under existing comparative negligence standards.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB777,1 Section 1. 101.122 of the statutes is created to read:

SB777,3,2 101.122 Trampoline park safety. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB777,3,5 (a) “Commercial trampoline" means a device that incorporates a trampoline bed and is used for recreational jumping, springing, bouncing, acrobatics, or gymnastics in a trampoline park.

SB777,3,9 (b) “Emergency response plan" means a written plan of action for the reasonable and appropriate contact, deployment, and coordination of services, agencies, and personnel to provide the earliest possible response to an injury or emergency.

SB777,3,11 (c) “Operator" means a person who owns, manages, or controls or who has the duty to manage or control the operation of a trampoline park.

SB777,3,12 (d) “Participant" means an individual who uses a trampoline park.

SB777,3,14 (e) “Trampoline bed" means the flexible surface of a trampoline on which a user jumps or bounces.

SB777,3,16 (f) “Trampoline court" means an area of a trampoline park comprising either of the following:

SB777,3,17 1. Multiple commercial trampolines.

SB777,3,19 2. At least one commercial trampoline and at least one associated foam or inflatable bag pit.

SB777,4,2 (g) “Trampoline park" means a place of business that offers the recreational use of a trampoline court for a fee.

SB777,4,7 (2) License required. (a) Except as provided in sub. (3), no person may operate a trampoline park without holding an annual license issued by the department. Subject to ss. 440.12 and 440.13, the department shall issue or renew a license if the applicant pays the fee required under s. 101.19 (1g) (ar) and submits a copy of the certificate of insurance required under sub.(4).

SB777,4,9 (b) The department shall promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for applying for annual licenses issued or renewed under par. (a).

SB777,4,10 (3) Exemptions. This section does not apply to any of the following:

SB777,4,12 (a) A playground operated by a school, city, village, town, or county if all of the following are satisfied:

SB777,4,13 1. The playground is an incidental amenity.

SB777,4,15 2. The school, city, village, town, or county does not primarily derive revenue from operating the playground for a fee.

SB777,4,17 (b) A gymnastics, dance, cheer, or tumbling facility that satisfies any of the following:

SB777,4,19 1. The majority of activities at the facility are based in training or rehearsal and not recreation.

SB777,4,21 2. The facility derives at least 80 percent of revenues through supervised instruction or classes.

SB777,4,23 3. The student-coach or student-instructor ratio is based on age, skill level, and number of students.

SB777,4,25 (c) Equipment used exclusively for exercise, an inflatable ride, or an inflatable bounce house.

SB777,5,1 (4) Insurance. An operator of a trampoline park shall do all of the following:

SB777,5,5 (a) Maintain insurance providing liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 in the aggregate and $500,000 per incident to cover injuries to participants arising out of any negligence or misconduct by the operator or the trampoline park's staff in the construction, maintenance, or operation of the trampoline park.

SB777,5,6 (b) Maintain a certificate of insurance demonstrating compliance with par. (a).

SB777,5,8 (c) Notify the department within 24 hours of the lapse, expiration, or cancellation of the insurance required under par. (a).

SB777,5,11 (5) Violation; license suspension or revocation. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a violation of this section is grounds for the department to suspend or revoke a license issued or renewed under sub. (2) (a).

SB777,5,16 (b) The department may suspend or revoke a license only if the department gives the operator an opportunity to cure the violation at least 60 days before the suspension or revocation, except no opportunity to cure is required for a repeat violation. The department shall promulgate rules specifying the timeline and process for curing a violation.

SB777,5,18 (6) Compliance with industry standards. An operator of a trampoline park shall do all of the following:

SB777,5,20 (a) Ensure that the trampoline park complies with industry standards regarding all of the following:

SB777,5,22 1. Signage and notification for proper use of the trampoline park, safety procedures, and education of risk.

SB777,5,24 2. Equipment and facilities, including materials, layout, condition, and maintenance.

SB777,5,25 3. Staff training, including safety procedures and emergency response.