BILL ANALYSIS Ó ------------------------------------------------------------ |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 264| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ------------------------------------------------------------ THIRD READING Bill No: SB 264 Author: Correa (D) Amended: 5/3/11 Vote: 21 SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE : 5-0, 4/26/11 AYES: Evans, Harman, Blakeslee, Corbett, Leno SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8 SUBJECT : Recreational activities: skateboard parks SOURCE : California Park and Recreation Society DIGEST : This bill removes the sunset date on existing law relative to skateboarding at a local public facility. This bill also requires copies of the records of claims and law suits be filed annually by local public agencies with the legislature, as specified. ANALYSIS : Existing law prohibits an operator of a skateboard park from permitting any person to ride a skateboard in the park unless that person is wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. Existing law further describes how those requirements may be satisfied with respect to a recreational skateboard facility owned and operated by a local public agency, as specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2012, further provides that skateboarding at a public skateboard park is a hazardous recreational activity, if all of specified conditions are CONTINUED SB 264 Page 2 met, including if the person skateboarding is12 years of age or older. This bill continues indefinitely the latter provision deeming skateboarding at a public skateboard park a hazardous recreational activity. Existing law, until January 1, 2012, requires a local public agency to maintain a record of injuries incurred by a skateboarder in a public skateboard park or facility and all claims and lawsuits against the public agency arising from those injuries. Existing law requires copies of those records to be filed annually with the Judicial Council, and existing law required the Judicial Council to submit a specified report on those injuries, claims, and lawsuits to the Legislature by March 31, 2011. This bill requires copies of the records of claims and lawsuits, beginning in 2013, to be filed annually with the Assembly Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes SUPPORT : (Verified 5/17/11) California Park & Recreation Society (source) American Society of Landscape Architects California Association of Joint Powers Authorities California State Assn. of Counties Excess Insurance Authority City of Garden Grove City of Laguna Hills League of California Cities Skate Park Association International ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office, without repeal or extension of the sunset provision contained in Health and Safety Code Section 115800, public entities will face increased liability related to skateboard parks and will no longer have incentive to build and operate these facilities. In fact, a majority of public SB 264 Page 3 entities, including the City of Garden Grove, could be forced to close existing facilities because they do not have fiscal resources to staff and monitor these facilities commensurate with the increased liability. This bill enables public entities to maintain their current skateboard parks with less risk of liability. This may result in greater recreational opportunities for the citizens of California through the construction of new skateboard parks and sport tournament promotion. The enactment of this bill could also have a positive immediate impact in local economies. RJG:do 5/17/11 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END ****