Minnesota Skier Safety Act (SF 901) Summary

• Establishes the "Minnesota Skier Safety Act" creating Chapter 184C of Minnesota Statutes to define ski area operator and skier responsibilities and liability standards.

• Requires skiers to comply with the Skier Responsibility Code including staying in control, yielding to others ahead, observing posted signs, and safely using lifts; skiers assume inherent risks of skiing unless caused by operator negligence.

• Obligates operators to maintain ski lifts per ANSI B77.1-2011 standards with annual inspections, post warning signs (6 square feet at ticket sales, 200 square inches in arrival areas), provide trail maps with difficulty designations, and maintain freestyle terrain barricades.

• Requires ski area vehicles operating during lift hours to display flashing lights and for smaller vehicles to display red or orange flags (40+ square inches, 5+ feet high).

• Implements comparative fault provisions and notice requirements for injury claims (180 days for non-municipal operators, 1 year for death claims); effective August 1, 2015 for incidents occurring on or after that date.