1     
TRAMPOLINE PARK SAFETY STANDARDS

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Norman K. Thurston

5     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill enacts licensing and operational standards for trampoline parks.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     requires the operator of a trampoline park to obtain a business license to operate the
14     trampoline park;
15          ▸     provides for a local regulating authority to suspend or revoke a trampoline park
16     operator's business license for noncompliance;
17          ▸     identifies industry standards with which a trampoline park must comply;
18          ▸     describes specific notification, training, supervision, injury reporting, and
19     emergency response standards with which a trampoline park must comply;
20          ▸     requires an annual inspection;
21          ▸     requires a trampoline park operator to annually provide a local regulating authority
22     certain certificates of compliance;
23          ▸     requires a trampoline park to carry certain insurance; and
24          ▸     insulates a trampoline park from liability claims due to certain inherent risks related
25     to the use of a trampoline park.
26     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
27          None

28     Other Special Clauses:
29          None
30     Utah Code Sections Affected:
31     ENACTS:
32          11-63-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33          11-63-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34          11-63-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35          11-63-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36          11-63-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37          11-63-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38          11-63-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39          11-63-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
40          11-63-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
41          11-63-305, Utah Code Annotated 1953
42          11-63-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
43          11-63-402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
44          11-63-501, Utah Code Annotated 1953
45          11-63-502, Utah Code Annotated 1953
46     

47     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
48          Section 1. Section 11-63-101 is enacted to read:
49     
CHAPTER 63. TRAMPOLINE PARK SAFETY

50     
Part 1. General Provisions

51          11-63-101. Title.
52          This chapter shall be known as "Trampoline Park Safety."
53          Section 2. Section 11-63-102 is enacted to read:
54          11-63-102. Definitions.
55          As used in this chapter:
56          (1) "Commercial trampoline" means a device that:
57          (a) incorporates a trampoline bed; and
58          (b) is used for recreational jumping, springing, bouncing, acrobatics, or gymnastics in a

59     trampoline park.
60          (2) "Emergency response plan" means a written plan of action for the reasonable and
61     appropriate contact, deployment, and coordination of services, agencies, and personnel to
62     provide the earliest possible response to an injury or emergency.
63          (3) "Inherent risk" means a danger or condition that is an integral part of an activity
64     occurring at a trampoline park, including:
65          (a) poor timing in relation to bouncing;
66          (b) being launched in an unexpected direction;
67          (c) colliding with another person in the course of an activity where both participants
68     have an expectation of being on the same surface;
69          (d) being struck by a ball or other thrown object while participating in an activity
70     where throwing the ball or other object toward a participant is an integral part of the activity;
71          (e) the effect of increased physical forces associated with the proper use of the
72     trampoline park equipment on a pre-existing physical condition that may result in the
73     exacerbation or aggravation of the condition; and
74          (f) the failure of a participant to act within the participant's own skill set or ability.
75          (4) "Inspector" means an individual who:
76          (a) inspects a trampoline park to certify compliance with this chapter and industry
77     safety standards; and
78          (b) (i) is certified by an organization that develops and publishes consensus standards
79     for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services that are used for trampolines;
80          (ii) represents the insurer of the trampoline park;
81          (iii) represents or is certified by a department or agency, regardless of whether the
82     agency is located within the state, that:
83          (A) inspects amusement and recreational facilities and equipment; and
84          (B) certifies and trains professional private industry inspectors through written testing
85     and continuing education requirements; or
86          (iv) represents an organization that the United States Olympic Committee designates as
87     the national governing body for gymnastics.
88          (5) "Local regulating authority" means the business licensing division of:
89          (a) the city, town, or metro township in which the trampoline park is located; or

90          (b) if the trampoline park is located in an unincorporated area, the county.
91          (6) "Operator" means a person who owns, manages, or controls or who has the duty to
92     manage or control the operation of a trampoline park.
93          (7) "Participant" means an individual that uses trampoline park equipment.
94          (8) "Trampoline bed" means the flexible surface of a trampoline on which a user jumps
95     or bounces.
96          (9) "Trampoline court" means an area of a trampoline park comprising:
97          (a) multiple commercial trampolines; or
98          (b) at least one commercial trampoline and at least one associated foam or inflatable
99     bag pit.
100          (10) "Trampoline park" means a place of business that offers the recreational use of a
101     trampoline court for a fee.
102          Section 3. Section 11-63-103 is enacted to read:
103          11-63-103. Exemptions.
104          This chapter does not apply to:
105          (1) a playground that a school or local government operates, if:
106          (a) the playground is an incidental amenity; and
107          (b) the operating entity does not primarily derive revenue from operating the
108     playground for a fee;
109          (2) a gymnastics, dance, cheer, or tumbling facility where:
110          (a) the majority of activities are based in training or rehearsal and not recreation;
111          (b) the facility derives at least 80% of revenues through supervised instruction or
112     classes; and
113          (c) the student-coach or student-instructor ratio is based on age, skill level, and number
114     of students; or
115          (3) equipment used exclusively for exercise, an inflatable ride, or an inflatable bounce
116     house.
117          Section 4. Section 11-63-201 is enacted to read:
118     
Part 2. License Required

119          11-63-201. Municipal or county business license required.
120          To operate a trampoline park the operator of a trampoline park shall obtain and

121     maintain, conditioned upon compliance with this chapter:
122          (1) if the trampoline park is located within an incorporated municipality, a municipal
123     business license authorized under Section 10-1-203; or
124          (2) if located within the unincorporated area of a county, a county business license
125     authorized under Section 17-53-216.
126          Section 5. Section 11-63-202 is enacted to read:
127          11-63-202. Violation -- License suspension or revocation.
128          (1) Except as provided in this section, a violation of this chapter is grounds for the
129     local regulating authority to suspend or revoke the operator's business license.
130          (2) A local regulating authority may not suspend or revoke a license under Subsection
131     (1) unless:
132          (a) the local regulating authority provides the operator with at least 60 days to cure the
133     violation that is the grounds for the action in accordance with the policy described in
134     Subsection (3); or
135          (b) regardless of the operator curing a violation as described in Subsection (2)(a), the
136     violation repeats.
137          (3) A local regulating authority that licenses a trampoline park operator shall define the
138     reasonable opportunity to cure violations described in Subsection (2)(a) by creating a generally
139     applicable policy that identifies a standard timeline and process for curing a violation.
140          Section 6. Section 11-63-301 is enacted to read:
141     
Part 3. Safety Standards

142          11-63-301. Compliance with industry standards.
143          A trampoline park operator shall ensure that the trampoline park complies with industry
144     standards regarding:
145          (1) signage and notification for proper use of the trampoline park, safety procedures,
146     and education of risk;
147          (2) equipment and facilities, including materials, layout, condition, and maintenance;
148          (3) staff training, including safety procedures and emergency response;
149          (4) participant activities and behaviors that should be restricted;
150          (5) separation of participants within the trampoline park based on age, size, or other
151     necessary factors;

152          (6) operational issues, including maintenance and injury logs and emergency response
153     plans;
154          (7) staff supervision and monitoring of activities; and
155          (8) statistical tracking of injuries in a manner that does not personally identify the
156     injured participant.
157          Section 7. Section 11-63-302 is enacted to read:
158          11-63-302. Notification and education of risk -- Signs.
159          An operator shall prominently display throughout the trampoline park contrasted safety,
160     warning, advisory, and instructional signage reflecting:
161          (1) the trampoline park's rules; and
162          (2) the inherit risks of participating in trampoline park activities.
163          Section 8. Section 11-63-303 is enacted to read:
164          11-63-303. Trampoline park employee training and equipment.
165          An operator shall ensure that, during all hours of operation:
166          (1) at least one trampoline park employee is working onsite who is certified in first aid
167     and CPR; and
168          (2) the trampoline park has an operable automated external defibrillator.
169          Section 9. Section 11-63-304 is enacted to read:
170          11-63-304. Trampoline court supervision.
171          An operator shall:
172          (1) require that trampoline park employees monitor the trampoline court and
173     participants during all hours of operation; and
174          (2) ensure that the number of trampoline park employees described in Subsection (1) is
175     adequate to view each area of the trampoline court.
176          Section 10. Section 11-63-305 is enacted to read:
177          11-63-305. Reporting of injuries -- Emergency response plan.
178          (1) An operator shall develop, implement, and follow an in-house injury reporting
179     system and emergency response plan for injuries.
180          (2) The operator shall retain any records related to the injury reporting system and
181     emergency response plan described in Subsection (1).
182          (3) The operator shall make available to the Department of Health or the local health

183     department, upon request:
184          (a) the information contained in the injury reporting system described in Subsection
185     (1); and
186          (b) the records described in Subsection (2).
187          Section 11. Section 11-63-401 is enacted to read:
188     
Part 4. Compliance

189          11-63-401. Annual certification to local regulating authority.
190          (1) A trampoline park operator shall provide the certifications described in Subsection
191     (2):
192          (a) at the time a trampoline park operator applies to a local regulating authority to
193     renew a business license to operate a trampoline park; and
194          (b) if the term of the license described in Subsection (1)(a) exceeds one year, at least
195     once per calendar year.
196          (2) In accordance with Subsection (1), a trampoline park operator shall certify
197     compliance with this chapter by submitting to the local regulating authority:
198          (a) an inspection certificate described in Subsection 11-63-402(3); and
199          (b) the certification of insurance described in Subsection 11-63-501(2).
200          Section 12. Section 11-63-402 is enacted to read:
201          11-63-402. Inspection.
202          A trampoline park operator shall:
203          (1) ensure that an inspector inspects the facilities and records of the trampoline park at
204     least once per calendar year to certify compliance with:
205          (a) industry safety standards, including each category of standards described in Section
206     11-63-301; and
207          (b) this chapter, including safety standards described in Sections 11-63-302,
208     11-63-303, 11-63-304, and 11-63-305;
209          (2) during the inspection described in Subsection (1), provide the inspector with:
210          (a) proof that the trampoline court is maintained in good repair;
211          (b) an emergency response plan; and
212          (c) maintenance, inspection, staff member training, and injury logs; and
213          (3) obtain from the inspector a certificate certifying that:

214          (a) the trampoline park has successfully passed the inspection described in this section;
215     and
216          (b) the trampoline park is in full compliance with this chapter.
217          Section 13. Section 11-63-501 is enacted to read:
218     
Part 5. Liability

219          11-63-501. Insurance.
220          A trampoline park operator shall:
221          (1) carry insurance, either through purchasing insurance or through the trampoline park
222     insuring itself, that is:
223          (a) appropriate for the type of activities the trampoline park offers;
224          (b) consistent with industry standards or otherwise typical in the industry; and
225          (c) provides reasonable protection for an individual who is injured due to the
226     negligence of the trampoline park and not an inherent risk;
227          (2) obtain or prepare a certificate that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local
228     regulating authority that the trampoline park carries the insurance described in Subsection (1);
229     and
230          (3) notify the licensing staff of the local regulating authority within 24 hours of the
231     lapse, expiration, or cancellation of the insurance described in Subsection (1).
232          Section 14. Section 11-63-502 is enacted to read:
233          11-63-502. Bar against claims for inherent risks.
234          Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, a participant may not make a
235     claim against or recover from an operator for an injury resulting from an inherent risk if the
236     operator was in compliance with Sections 11-63-301, 11-63-302, 11-63-303, 11-63-304, and
237     11-63-305.