What's happening
This bill grants civil immunity to unpaid volunteers and staff assisting youth sports programs run by nonprofit organizations, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Why it matters
Encourages volunteerism in youth sports. by reducing the risk of personal lawsuits for coaches, referees, and other unpaid helpers in nonprofit-run programs, potentially making it easier to recruit and retain volunteers.
Shields nonprofit organizations and their staff. from civil liability for ordinary accidents or mistakes, allowing them to focus more resources and attention on running programs rather than on legal defense or liability insurance.
Limits protection to non-grossly negligent acts. , meaning that volunteers and staff can still be held liable for serious misconduct or reckless behavior, preserving accountability for truly harmful actions.
Could increase access to youth sports. especially in under-resourced communities—by lowering barriers for nonprofits to offer programs, possibly resulting in more opportunities for children to participate in organized athletics.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Volunteer Sports Helpers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
- Held for consideration in judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
797
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CROUCH, BUTLER, FINCH, KOLB, OAKS, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to immunity from civil liability of persons assisting in sports programs of nonprofit-making organizations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 3 of the general obligations law is amended by adding a new title 7 to read as follows:
TITLE 7
CIVIL IMMUNITY OF PERSONS ASSISTING IN
SPORTS PROGRAMS OF NON-PROFIT-MAKING ORGANIZATIONS
Section 3-701. Definitions.
3-702. Civil immunity of persons assisting in sports programs
of non-profit-making organizations.
§ 3-701. Definitions. As used or referred to in this title, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1. "Compensation" means the earnings of a person for labor or services, but shall not include reimbursement for reasonable expenses actually incurred or to be incurred.
2. "Non-profit-making organization" means a corporation, or unincorporated association, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable or educational purposes, no part of the net earnings of which inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
3. "Sports program" means baseball, softball, football, basketball, soccer and any other competitive sport formally recognized as a sport of the Amateur Athletic Union or the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The term shall be limited to a program which is operated primarily for the recreational and athletic benefit of persons under eighteen years of age.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04554-01-7
A. 797 2
§ 3-702. Civil immunity of persons assisting in sports programs of non-profit-making organizations. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special, or local law, any person who voluntarily and without compensation renders services as a manager, coach, umpire or referee or as an assistant to a manager or coach in a sports program of a non-profit-making organization, or any officer or employee of such organization, conducting a sports program, shall not be liable to any person for civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in rendering such services or in conducting such sports program unless it is established that such act or omission constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any such person.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.