HCS HB 1403 -- AMUSEMENT RIDES

SPONSOR:  Mayer (Moore)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Crime
Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 16 to 2.

This substitute makes changes to the laws regarding amusement
rides.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Expands the definition of "amusement ride" to include dry
slides, bungee cord attractions, and climbing walls;

(2)  Authorizes the Department of Public Safety to conduct spot
inspections of amusement rides without notice whenever the ride
is operating and provides for suspension when unsafe conditions
are disclosed and reinstatement upon correction and reinspection;

(3)  Changes the allocation of collected inspection fees from the
General Revenue Fund to the Elevator Safety Fund; and

(4)  Makes it a class B misdemeanor to knowingly make false
statements or representations in documents required in the laws
governing amusement rides.

The substitute becomes effective January 1, 2005.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $14,250
in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.  Estimated Income on Other
State Funds of $7,568 in FY 2005, $141,337 in FY 2006, and
$142,249 in FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill establishes an
enforcement mechanism to ensure that safety requirements for
amusement rides and attractions are met.  In 1997, a safety
program for amusement rides was enacted, but there was no funding
mechanism.  In 2000, the Amusement Ride Safety Board was created,
but again, no funding was provided.  The bill creates a funding
stream to enforce the laws already in place and adds other
attractions, such as climbing walls.  Recently, a young woman
died after falling from a climbing wall because the safety wire
was held in place with duct tape.  A safety inspection would have
prevented her death.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Moore and Bruns;
Craig Ewing; Missouri Attractions Association; YMCA State
Alliance; and Office of State Fire Marshall.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Richard Smreker, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:15 am