SB 17-100

Senate Bill 17-100, also known as the "Land Stewardship Volunteer Grantee Immunity" bill, provides stronger legal protections for volunteers and nonprofit organizations that work on building or maintaining recreational trails in Colorado. The bill shields these groups from liability unless there is gross negligence or willful misconduct involved. It also prevents grant agreements from requiring nonprofits to buy insurance for their volunteer activities. This means that volunteers and nonprofits can now operate more freely without the fear of legal repercussions, as long as they are not engaging in reckless behavior. Since the bill has been signed into law, it is now enforceable and active in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill strengthens existing legal protections under the federal 'Volunteer Protection Act of 1997' and Colorado's 'Volunteer Service Act' for individual volunteers and nonprofit entities who build or maintain recreational trails and related facilities pursuant to grants received under Colorado's 'Recreational Trails System Act of 1971'. Specifically, the bill: Establishes either gross negligence or willful and wanton conduct as the minimum basis for liability, depending on whether the subject is an individual volunteer, a nonprofit entity, or a director, officer, or trustee of a nonprofit entity; Prohibits a grant agreement or procurement contract from requiring a nonprofit entity or volunteer to obtain insurance coverage for liability arising from completed operations; and Extends qualified immunity to a volunteer who operates a motor vehicle, including an off-highway vehicle or snowmobile, as part of a land stewardship activity.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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