Bills · 2021-2022 Regular Session
Relating to: regulating trampoline parks, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
Amusement Insurance — Miscellaneous Safety and professional services department of Sales
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan 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.