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GA HB994
Bill
Status
Passed
5/6/2024
Primary Sponsor
Alan Powell
Click for details
AI Summary
- Operators of vessels rented, leased, or chartered from a boat livery are personally liable for any injury or damage caused by their negligent operation of the vessel
- Boat liveries that obtain qualifying insurance are exempt from owner liability under existing tort law (Code Sections 51-1-21 and 51-1-22), and can only be held liable in specific circumstances such as renting to an unsafe or unqualified operator, failing to act when an operator is reckless or impaired, or providing a vessel not in reasonably safe operating condition
- Boat liveries must obtain and maintain an insurance policy providing coverage of at least $500,000 per person per occurrence and $1,000,000 in the aggregate per occurrence to qualify for the liability protections
- Boat liveries with qualifying insurance must display a conspicuous written disclaimer at rental locations and include it with rental agreements, notifying renters that the livery's insurance does not cover the renter and that the renter may be personally liable for damages or injuries
- "Vessel" is defined as a self-propelled, motorized boat longer than 16 feet with a depth greater than 16 inches, including personal watercraft but excluding inflatable/whitewater rafts (unless motorized) and seaplanes
Legislative Description
Torts; negligent operations of a vessel; revise liability
Last Action
Effective Date 2024-05-06
5/6/2024
Committee Referrals
Insurance and Labor2/22/2024
Insurance1/24/2024
Full Bill Text
No bill text available