OLR Bill Analysis

sSB 74 (File 28, as amended by Senate "A")*

AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF AMUSEMENT RIDES.

SUMMARY:

This bill expands the types of amusement rides subject to Department of Public Safety (DPS) licensing and regulation. It exempts inflatable devices leased for private residential use from DPS licensing and regulation. It allows the DPS commissioner to grant variations from, or approve equivalent or alternate compliance with, amusement ride laws or regulations if strict compliance would result in exceptional practical difficulty or undue hardship. The variation or alternate compliance must, in the commissioner's opinion, secure the public safety.

The bill specifies that it should not be construed to preclude the hiring of certified lifeguards under age 18 to oversee aquatic rides and devices such as pools, water slides, lazy rivers, or interactive play devices if an adult at least age 18 and trained in normal operating and emergency procedures supervises the area with the rides or devices.

*Senate Amendment “A” adds the provision on lifeguards and makes “exceptional practical difficulty and undue hardship” the standard for variation or exemption, instead of “practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship. ”

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2006

RIDES SUBJECT TO REGULATION

By law, DPS must license amusement ride owners for a fee of $ 50 annually. Owners must provide proof of financial responsibility and meet licensing standards, including annual inspections and reporting requirements. Under current law, the requirements apply to circuses or carnivals presented in the open and include any place where mechanical rides or devices capable of holding more than four people are presented for amusement or entertainment. The bill broadens the definition of rides by including all passenger rides normally requiring supervision or operator services and eliminating the mechanical standard and minimum passenger requirement.

Under current law, the commissioner must have someone investigate and inspect rides and devices. The bill requires the commissioner or his designee to conduct the investigations and inspections.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Public Safety and Security Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute

Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee

Joint Favorable