HBA-DMH H.B. 2400 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2400
By: Geren
Civil Practices
4/2/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, any person hosting or participating in a horse show or
horse exhibition is protected from damages arising from the activity with
certain exceptions.  The purpose of the law is to expressly recognize that
equine activity sponsors and participants understand and accept the
inherent dangers of handling and working with equine animals.  However, the
law does not protect participants and sponsors of nonprofit or countywide
livestock shows.  For example, a county or nonprofit organization is
protected from certain liability under the law if the hosts an equine
event, but not if the organization hosts a livestock show that includes
other types of animals.  House Bill 2400 establishes liability provisions
for livestock shows. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2400 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to establish
provisions for liability for livestock shows equivalent to existing
provisions established for liability for equine activities.  The bill
requires a livestock show sponsor to post and maintain a sign that contains
a prescribed warning if the livestock show sponsor manages or controls a
stable, barn, corral, or arena at which the livestock show sponsor conducts
a livestock show. The bill provides that the livestock show sponsor must
post the sign in a clearly visible location near the stable, barn, corral,
or arena and specifies the contents for the warning sign.  The bill
requires the livestock show sponsor to include the prescribed warning in
every written contact that the sponsor enters into with a livestock show
participant and provides that the warning must be clearly readable. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.