Recreational Land Use Act
Rep. Tony D’Amelio (R-71) today applauded a law that will encourage municipalities to open or continue to offer the public use of land for recreational activities.
S.B. 43 “An Act Expanding the Recreational Land Use Act” passed by a vote of 142 to 1 today in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
“This bill takes away one of the major hurdles towns have to deal with when considering whether or not to open up their property to recreational uses such as sledding, hiking and biking,” Rep. D’Amelio said. “This law doesn’t mean towns can’t be held accountable for mismanagement, but it protects them from the threat of frivolous lawsuits.”
Current state law gives state land and certain private land owners some immunity protections from personal injury lawsuits. This legislation specifically extends those same protections under the current “Recreational Land Use” law to municipalities who make lands available for recreation use, such as bike trails or picnicking.
A 1996 Connecticut Supreme Court Decision Conway v. Wilton stripped Connecticut municipal lands of protection under the “Recreational Land Use” law. Since that decision, some municipalities have closed, stopped construction on, halted acquisition of or restricted the use of recreational facilities.
We should encourage our cities and towns to allow the public to use and enjoy public land,” Rep. D’Amelio said. “Opening up space for people to have a picnic or slide down a snowy hill shouldn’t come down to a decision between what’s good for the people or what the town can afford if sued.”