New York S 545: Prohibits a skier from skiing in any area unless such skier is wearing a protective helmet; applicable to skiers under fourteen years of age

Bill Text

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S00545 Summary:

BILL NOS00545 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORSTEC

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§18-105 & 18-103, add §18-106-a, Gen Ob L

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Relates to the duties of skiers and ski area operators regarding the use of helmets; requires skiers under age 14 to wear helmets; requires ski area operators to maintain an adequate supply of helmets for sale and rental; requires operators to post signs.

Go to top S00545 Actions:

BILL NOS00545 

&nbsp

01/08/2025REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

01/07/2026REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

Go to topS00545 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS00545 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS00545 Text:

 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 Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Subdivisions 13 and 14 of section 18-105 of the general
 2 obligations law, as added by chapter 711 of the laws of 1988, are
 3 amended and a new subdivision 15 is added to read as follows:
 4 13. To report any personal injury to the ski area operator before
 5 leaving the ski area; [and]
 6 14. Not to willfully remove, deface, alter or otherwise damage
 7 signage, warning devices or implements, or other safety devices placed
 8 and maintained by the ski area operator pursuant to the requirements of
 9 section 18-103 of this article[.]; and
 10 15. All skiers, under fourteen years of age, shall have the additional
 11 responsibility to wear a helmet suitable for use while skiing. For
 12 purposes of this subdivision wearing of a helmet means a helmet of good
 13 fit fastened securely to the head of the wearer with straps securely
 14 fastened.
 15 § 2. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new section
 16 18-106-a to read as follows:
 17 § 18-106-a. Enforcement of ski helmet requirements. 1. Any person who
 18 violates the provisions of subdivision fifteen of section 18-105 of this
 19 article shall pay a civil fine not to exceed fifty dollars. A court
 20 shall waive such fine if such person supplies the court with proof that
 21 between the date of the violation and the appearance date for such
 22 violation such person purchased or rented a helmet.
 23 2. Local law enforcement shall be solely responsible for enforcing the
 24 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

 S. 545 2

 1 police officer shall only issue a summons for a violation of such subdi-
 2 vision by a person under fourteen years of age to the parent or guardian
 3 of such person if the violation by such person occurs in the presence of
 4 such person's parent or guardian and where such parent or guardian is
 5 eighteen years of age or older. Such summons shall only be issued to
 6 such parent or guardian, and shall not be issued to the person under the
 7 age of fourteen.
 8 § 3. Section 18-103 of the general obligations law is amended by
 9 adding three new subdivisions 15, 16 and 17 to read as follows:
 10 15. (a) To post signs at the central location information board at
 11 the ski area and at all on site locations where tickets are sold that
 12 advises customers of the availability of helmets for sale and for rent
 13 at the ski area; and
 14 (b) To post signs at the central location information board at the ski
 15 area and at all on site locations where tickets are sold that advises
 16 customers of their obligations under section 18-105 of this article.
 17 16. To maintain a reasonable inventory of helmets for rent and for
 18 sale. Such helmets shall meet the standards and criteria set forth in
 19 subdivision fifteen of section 18-105 of this article.
 20 17. To publish on all lift tickets the following language: "New York
 21 state law prohibits children under fourteen years of age from
 22 skii