BILL REQ. #:  H-1206.1 



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HOUSE BILL 1719
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State of Washington62nd Legislature2011 Regular Session

By Representatives Rodne, Schmick, Haler, Smith, Wilcox, Johnson, Klippert, Kristiansen, McCune, Short, Ross, and Warnick

Read first time 01/31/11.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.



     AN ACT Relating to limiting liability for unauthorized passengers in a vehicle; adding a new section to chapter 4.92 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 4.24 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature does not agree with or accept the state supreme court's decision in Rahman v. State, Docket No. 83428-8 (January 20, 2011) and finds it is necessary to add language to chapter 4.92 RCW in order to overrule the decision in Rahman v. State and make the intent of the legislature as clear as possible. The legislature intends to restore common sense to the law by overruling the courts' holding in Rahman v. State that a government or private employer may be held liable for injuries to unauthorized occupants of the employer's vehicles.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The state and political subdivisions of the state are not liable for any injury received by a third-party occupant of a vehicle that is owned, leased, rented, or otherwise used by or for the benefit of the state or the political subdivision if, at the time the injuries were inflicted, the third-party occupant was not specifically and expressly authorized by the state or political subdivision to be an occupant of the vehicle.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "third-party occupant" means a person who occupies a vehicle owned, leased, rented, or otherwise used by or for the benefit of the state or political subdivision and who is not an officer, employee, or agent of the state or political subdivision.
     (3) This section is remedial and retroactive, and applies to all causes of action occurring before the effective date of this section where a final judgment has not been entered, and to all causes of action occurring on or after the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A private employer is not liable for any injury received by a third-party occupant of a vehicle that is owned, leased, rented, or otherwise used by or for the benefit of the employer if, at the time the injuries were inflicted, the third-party occupant was not:
     (a) Specifically and expressly authorized by the employer to be an occupant of the vehicle; or
     (b) Acting on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the employer with the knowledge or implied approval or acquiescence of the employer.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "third-party occupant" means a person who occupies a vehicle owned, leased, rented, or otherwise used by or for the benefit of the private employer and who is not an officer, employee, or agent, or authorized or constructive invitee of the private employer.
     (3) This section is remedial and retroactive, and applies to all causes of action occurring before the effective date of this section where a final judgment has not been entered, and to all causes of action occurring on or after the effective date of this section.

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