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Senate Panel Approves Waugh Legislation to Protect Equine
Industry
HARRISBURG – The Senate
Judiciary Committee approved legislation today that would
protect the state’s equine industry from excessive insurance
costs and lawsuits, according to Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York).
Senate Bill 618 would limit
civil liability for injury or death that occurs in
connection with equine activity. The bill protects owners
from lawsuits where no party is at fault for injury or
damages.
“Equine activity involves
natural risks, and equine owners should not be forced to
bear the entire burden of that risk,” said Waugh, who chairs
the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. “We have
been working on this issue for some time, and I am hopeful
that we can provide this important protection for our equine
owners in the very near future.”
Pennsylvania is one of just
six states in the nation that does not limit liability on
equine activities. This substantially raises the rates to
purchase liability insurance, making it unaffordable for
most small barn owners and operators. Waugh said his
legislation would ease the burden these costs place on horse
and stable owners.
Senate Bill 618 is part of
the Farmers First Agenda, a comprehensive package of
legislation introduced in June to promote agriculture in
Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 618 was only one part of the
Farmers First agenda that would benefit the state’s equine
industry. House Bill 619, legislation that would expand the
state’s farmland preservation program to include commercial
equine activity, was signed into law November 1.
Waugh thanked the
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and the Pennsylvania
Equine Council for their assistance in drafting the
compromise language in Senate Bill 618, and for their
perseverance on the issue.
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