| TO: | Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1224 by Duncan (Relating to liability of a governmental unit for certain recreational activities.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend Subchapter 75, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, by adding to the list of activities that define "recreation" on any premises of a governmental unit for purposes of the governmental unit's limited liability to include bicycling and mountain biking, disc golf, and on-leash and off-leash walking of dogs. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005. The bill would apply only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date.
Subchapter 75 provides liability protection for the state and local governments when operating certain types of recreational facilities when designated warning signs are posted. The Parks and Wildlife Department determined it would have to erect signs at 120 sites, at a cost of $250 per sign, for a total one-time cost of $30,000.
Recreation facilities operated by local governments would incur the costs of erecting warning signs, at a cost of approximately $250 per sign. The number of signs per facility would vary, depending on the size of the site.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: | 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, SR, DLBa
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