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CS/CS/SB 902 — Safety Standards for Amusement Rides
by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Agriculture Committee; and Senators Thompson and Yarborough
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Agriculture Committee (AG)
The bill, (Chapter 2023-50, L.O.F.) the “Tyre Sampson Act,” significantly amends regulations related to amusement rides after a fatal incident occurred in Orlando in March of 2022.
The bill amends the definition of “major modification” and provides a definition for the term “ride commissioning and certification report.” The bill provides new requirements for permanent and temporary amusement rides and requires that each permanent or temporary amusement ride operated for the first time after July 1, 2023, have a ride commissioning and certification report on file with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (department) before the ride’s first inspection and a permit is issued. The bill provides exemptions for certain temporary amusement rides.
The bill requires that nonvisual nondestructive testing of appropriate components must be conducted under certain circumstances, and creates new reporting requirements for an affidavit of nondestructive testing. The affidavit of nondestructive testing must include the following:
- That all the ride manufacturer’s nondestructive testing requirements and recommendations are current;
- That the components of the amusement ride for which the affiant, in addition to the manufacturer’s requirements and recommendations, has recommended or required nondestructive testing;
- That the ride is in conformance with the requirements of statute and applicable department rules;
- Whether the amusement ride went under a major modification, the name of the person who authorized the modification and the date the modification took place; and
- That the amusement ride and applicable components are in conformance with the service life specified by the manufacturer.
The bill requires that patron-loading and the proper positioning and measurements for patron safety restraint systems must be provided to the department upon request. It also provides that if rider restrictions related to age, size, health, or weight are not provided in the ride’s manual, the owner or manager must provide the department with documentation from the manufacturer stating that such restrictions do not exist.
The bill permits the department to prepare a written report of each investigation it conducts. The bill also changes the accident reporting requirements for owners and managers following an accident, and changes the parameters in which the department is permitted to impound an amusement ride involved in an accident.
The bill requires the department to establish by rule, minimum training and retraining standards, and the frequency of employee training for all amusement rides. The bill also requires the owner or manager of an amusement ride to immediately document all training following each training session.
These provisions were approved by the Governor and take effect July 1, 2023.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 115-0