March 17, 2011, Introduced by Senator HUNE and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
A bill to require the operators of bowling centers to give
certain notices to bowlers; and to grant immunity from civil
liability to operators of bowling centers.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"bowling center act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Bowler" means a person in a bowling center for the
purpose of recreational or competitive bowling.
(b) "Bowling center" means a structure that has an area
specifically designed to be used by the public for recreational or
competitive bowling.
(c) "Bowling shoes" mean shoes that are specifically designed
for the purpose of recreational or competitive bowling.
(d) "Operator" means a person that owns, manages, controls,
directs, or has the responsibility of operating a bowling center.
Sec. 3. An operator shall post a notice in a conspicuous place
near each entrance to and exit from a bowling center that reads:
"Bowling shoes are specialized footwear and are not intended to be
worn outside a bowling center because the bowling shoes may be
affected by substances or materials such as snow, ice, rain,
moisture, food, or debris. Such substances or materials on bowling
shoes that have been worn outside a bowling center may cause the
person wearing the bowling shoes to slip, trip, stumble, or fall on
the floor or alley surfaces in the bowling center."
Sec. 4. (1) If an operator posts a notice as required by
section 3, the operator is not civilly liable for injuries to a
bowler resulting from a slip, trip, stumble, or fall inside the
bowling center solely caused by a substance or material on the
bowler's bowling shoes that was acquired outside the bowling center
immediately before the bowler entered or reentered the bowling
center.
(2) The protection from liability under this section does not
apply if the liability of the operator results from willful or
wanton misconduct.
Enacting section 1. This act applies only to a cause of action
that accrues on or after January 1, 2012.