What's happening
This bill requires all skiers under 14 in New York to wear helmets, imposes fines for violations, and mandates ski areas provide helmet access and related signage.
Why it matters
Shifts responsibility for helmet violations onto parents/guardians when present. Fines for children under 14 skiing without a helmet are issued only if their parent or guardian (age 18+) is present, targeting adult supervision rather than penalizing children directly.
Allows for fine waivers if helmets are obtained after a violation. The bill incentivizes compliance by waiving fines if a helmet is purchased or rented before the court date, providing a practical path to correct non-compliance without penalty.
Requires ski areas to actively promote and facilitate helmet use. Ski resorts must clearly notify customers about the helmet rule, offer helmets for sale/rent, and publish the law on lift tickets, making it harder for families to claim ignorance and ensuring easy access to compliant gear.
Potentially impacts liability and safety culture. By codifying helmet requirements and the obligations of ski area operators, the bill could shift expectations around safety, influence insurance and liability issues for resorts, and ultimately reduce head injuries among children.
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Who cares
Skiers under 14
The bill would require them to wear a suitable, properly fitted helmet with securely fastened straps while skiing.
Parents and guardians
Those 18 or older who are present during a child's violation could receive a summons carrying a civil fine of up to $50, which a court must waive with proof of a helmet purchase or rental between the violation and court appearance.
Ski area operators
They would have to stock helmets for sale and rental, post signs about helmet availability and skier obligations, and print the under-14 helmet warning on all lift tickets.
Local law enforcement agencies
They would have sole responsibility for enforcing the helmet requirement, with summonses issued only to qualifying parents or guardians rather than children.
Headline styles
Require Helmets for Young Skiers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
545
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. STEC -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to the duties of skiers and ski area operators
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 13 and 14 of section 18-105 of the general obligations law, as added by chapter 711 of the laws of 1988, are amended and a new subdivision 15 is added to read as follows:
13. To report any personal injury to the ski area operator before leaving the ski area; [and]
14. Not to willfully remove, deface, alter or otherwise damage signage, warning devices or implements, or other safety devices placed and maintained by the ski area operator pursuant to the requirements of section 18-103 of this article[.]; and
15. All skiers, under fourteen years of age, shall have the additional responsibility to wear a helmet suitable for use while skiing. For purposes of this subdivision wearing of a helmet means a helmet of good fit fastened securely to the head of the wearer with straps securely fastened.
§ 2. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new section 18-106-a to read as follows:
§ 18-106-a. Enforcement of ski helmet requirements. 1. Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision fifteen of section 18-105 of this article shall pay a civil fine not to exceed fifty dollars. A court shall waive such fine if such person supplies the court with proof that between the date of the violation and the appearance date for such violation such person purchased or rented a helmet.
2. Local law enforcement shall be solely responsible for enforcing the provisions of subdivision fifteen of section 18-105 of this article. A
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02339-01-5
police officer shall only issue a summons for a violation of such subdivision by a person under fourteen years of age to the parent or guardian of such person if the violation by such person occurs in the presence of such person's parent or guardian and where such parent or guardian is eighteen years of age or older. Such summons shall only be issued to such parent or guardian, and shall not be issued to the person under the age of fourteen.
§ 3. Section 18-103 of the general obligations law is amended by adding three new subdivisions 15, 16 and 17 to read as follows:
15. (a) To post signs at the central location information board at the ski area and at all on site locations where tickets are sold that advises customers of the availability of helmets for sale and for rent at the ski area; and
(b) To post signs at the central location information board at the ski area and at all on site locations where tickets are sold that advises customers of their obligations under section 18-105 of this article.
16. To maintain a reasonable inventory of helmets for rent and for sale. Such helmets shall meet the standards and criteria set forth in subdivision fifteen of section 18-105 of this article.
17. To publish on all lift tickets the following language: "New York state law prohibits children under fourteen years of age from skiing/snowboarding without a helmet."
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however that section three of this act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general obligations law, in relation to the duties of skiers and ski area operators
Purpose
This bill would require that all skiers under fourteen years of age must wear a helmet while skiing at New York ski areas.
Summary of provisions
Section one of this bill would amend Subdivisions 13 and 14 of section 18-105 of the general obligations law, as added by chapter 711 of the laws of 1988, and would add a new subdivision 15 to require that all skiers under fourteen years of age have the responsibility to wear a helmet suitable for use while skiing.
Read the full memo (682 words)
Section two of this bill would add a new section 18-106-a to the general obligations law to provide that local law enforcement will have the responsibility of enforcing these new ski helmet requirements.
Section three of this bill would add three new subdivisions 15, 16 and 17 to Section 18-103 to the general obligations law to provide for the posting of signs advising customers of the availability of helmets for rent or for sale at the ski area and to provide for a reasonable inven- tory of helmets for rent and for sale. Furthermore, it requires that the phrase "New York State Law prohibits children under fourteen years of age from skiing/snowboarding without a helmet." be published on all lift tickets.
Section four of this bill provides for the effective date.
Justification
At the request of the Ski Areas of New York, Inc., this legislation is modeled after the New York State Bicycle Helmet Law to provide for the use of helmets for all skiers under the age of fourteen who ski at pew, York ski areas. This bill would require that all skiers under thdA4et.of fourteen wear protective helmets that are fastened securely to their head with straps securely fastened. It will be the responsibility of local law enforcement to enforce this new helmet requirement. Ski area operators will be required to post signage at locations where ski tick- ets are sold advising customers of this new law as well as the avail- ability of helmets for rent and for sale at the ski facility. The Ski Areas of New York, Inc. encourage and promote the use of helmets by their skiers, and this legislation will now require that those skiers under the age of fourteen will now have to wear a protective helmet similar to what is required under the New York State Bicycle Helmet Law. While statistics support the fact that skiing is a relatively safe sport with 2.6 injuries per 1,000 skier visits, head injuries do occur with some frequency and make up approximately 14% of all injuries suffered. The New York State Ski Industry has been proactive re garding helmet use by children. They provide helmets for rent and for sale at their resorts. They also educate their consumers on the benefits of helmet
use; resort signage and education programs such as WWW.LIDSONKIDS.COM are examples.
Based upon their commitment to safety and helmet design advances, the New York State Ski Industry (consistent with previous skier responsibil- ity laws Industrial Code article 18) is willing to support certain helmet related obligations such as mandatory sign age, inventory and education regarding helmet use by children. Child ski helmet use and awareness is growing. By enacting this law, more children will wear helmets while skiing which in turn will reduce the number of head inju- ries suffered while skiing in New York State. Given the success of the New York State Bicycle Helmet law, the Ski Areas of New York, Incorpo- rated supports legislation which extends this law to the sport of down- hill skiing.
Legislative history
2023-2024: S22 referred to Judiciary; A2469 referred to Judiciary
2022/2021: S5329 referred to Judiciary; A517 referred to Judiciary
2020/2019: S1945 referred to Judiciary; A1568 referred to Judiciary
2018/2017: S1376 passed Senate; A9749 referred to Judiciary
2016/2015: S1851 passed Senate; A1911 referred to Judiciary
2014/2013: S3282 passed Senate; A8908 referred to Judiciary
2012/2011: S4356 referred to Judiciary
Fiscal implications
None
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.