SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5835

                       AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 13, 1991

Brief Description:  Giving the parks and recreation commission responsibility for signs on aerial ski lifts.

SPONSORS:Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Sellar, Talmadge and Nelson).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5835 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Erwin, L. Kreidler, Madsen, Newhouse, and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Dick Armstrong (786‑7460)

Hearing Dates:March 5, 1991

BACKGROUND:

An operator of a ski area is required to maintain a sign system to protect skiers from injuries.  State law requires the sign system to be based on international and national standards; however, the same state statute also sets forth numerous requirements on the types and contents of the sign system.  The result is that details of the state sign system for skiers may be inconsistent with international and national standards. 

It is suggested that such inconsistencies can be eliminated by having the Parks and Recreation Commission develop rules for a sign system for the operators of the ski area.

SUMMARY:

The Parks and Recreation Commission is authorized to adopt rules relating to a sign system for ski areas and for other recreational devices.  The specific statutory requirements of the state sign system for ski areas is eliminated.  The commission is not subject to liability for rules relating to the signing requirements for ski areas.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill corrects a discrepancy in state statute.  State statute requires a "safety gate" sign, but the national standard has been changed to a "stop gate."  The U.S. Forest Service, lift manufacturers, wire rope manufacturers and many other states use the national guidelines.  The bill removes the conflict in existing state statute.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Nina Carter, State Parks; Mel Borgersen, Pacific Northwest Ski Area Assn.; Nancee Wildermuth, Pacific Northwest Ski Area Assn.