Before exhibiting or providing any amusement in this state or engaging in the conduct of any place of amusement, entertainment, diversion or recreation to which an admission fee is charged and so located in any area which, with other places of amusement, entertainment, diversion or recreation, constitutes a public amusement park, the owner shall furnish proof of financial responsibility to satisfy claims for damages on account of any physical injuries or property damage arising out of the operation of such public amusement park suffered by any person by reason of any act or omission on the part of the owner, his agents or employees, any fair or exposition association, any sponsoring organization or committee, any owner or lessee of any premises used for such public amusement park or any public authority granting a permit to the owner, in the minimum amounts as determined from the following table:

Area of Largest Tent(sq. ft.)

Combined LiabilityPer Accident

No Tents

1,000,000

1 -   1,500

1,000,000

1,501 -   3,000

1,500,000

3,001 -   6,000

2,000,000

6,001 - 12,000

3,000,000

12,001 - 20,000

4,000,000

20,001 - 30,000

5,000,000

30,001 and over

6,000,000

For mechanical rides or devices capable of accommodating three or more persons, the following minimum amount shall apply: For bodily injury and property damage one million dollars per accident. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the minimum amount for owners of any waterslide ride or device shall be five hundred thousand dollars per accident. The character and form of the financial responsibility shall be as the Insurance Commissioner determines to be necessary for the protection of the public.

(1949 Rev., S. 3721; P.A. 73-502, S. 4, 5; P.A. 75-382, S. 2, 4; P.A. 76-30, S. 2, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 163, 610; P.A. 79-314, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-482, S. 187, 348; P.A. 87-90, S. 1, 2.)

History: P.A. 73-502 added table of minimum required coverages and made provisions applicable to those who provide amusements; P.A. 75-382 replaced table, generally doubling amounts, and added provision setting minimum coverages for mechanical rides or devices capable of accommodating three or more persons; P.A. 76-30 required proof of financial responsibility before “engaging in the conduct of any place of amusement, entertainment, diversion or recreation to which an admission fee is charged and so located in any area which, with other places of amusement ... constitutes a public amusement park”; P.A. 77-614 placed insurance commissioner within the department of business regulation and made insurance department a division within that same department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-314 replaced table which had set separate minimum coverages for bodily injury and property damage with table of combined liabilities and clarified that claims may arise out of operation of amusement park or because of actions of fair or exposition associations, sponsors, owners or lessees of premises and public authorities granting permits; P.A. 80-482 deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation, reinstating insurance commissioner as head of independent insurance department; P.A. 87-90 established a minimum amount of $500,000 per accident for owners of waterslide rides or devices.