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2017 SESSION

17103893D
SENATE BILL NO. 1491
Offered January 18, 2017
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-6400 and 3.2-6402 of the Code of Virginia, relating to agritourism activities; residence rental.
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Patron-- Stuart
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 3.2-6400 and 3.2-6402 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 3.2-6400. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Agricultural products" means any livestock, aquaculture, poultry, horticultural, floricultural, viticulture, silvicultural, or other farm crops.

"Agritourism activity" means any activity carried out on a farm or ranch that allows members of the general public, for recreational, entertainment, or educational purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities, including farming, wineries, or ranching,; historical, cultural, or harvest-your-own activities, or; natural activities and attractions; or the rental, in compliance with applicable transient lodging laws, of a single-family residence on the farm or ranch that is so rented for periods of not less than one week each. An activity is an agritourism activity whether or not the participant paid to participate in the activity.

"Agritourism professional" means any person who is engaged in the business of providing one or more agritourism activities, whether or not for compensation.

"Farm or ranch" means one or more areas of land used for the production, cultivation, growing, harvesting or processing of agricultural products.

"Inherent risks of agritourism activity" mean those dangers or conditions that are an integral part of an agritourism activity including certain hazards, including surface and subsurface conditions; natural conditions of land, vegetation, and waters; the behavior of wild or domestic animals; and ordinary dangers of structures or equipment ordinarily used in farming and ranching operations. Inherent risks of agritourism activity also include the potential of a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to the participant or others, including failing to follow instructions given by the agritourism professional or failing to exercise reasonable caution while engaging in the agritourism activity.

"Participant" means any person, other than an agritourism professional, who engages in an agritourism activity.

§ 3.2-6402. Notice required.

A. Every agritourism professional shall post and maintain signs that contain the notice specified in subsection B. The sign signs shall be placed in a clearly visible location at the entrance to the agritourism location and at the site of the agritourism activity. The notice shall consist of a sign in black letters, with each letter to be a minimum of one inch in height. Every written contract entered into by an agritourism professional for the providing provision of professional services, or instruction, or the rental of equipment or lodging to a participant, whether or not the contract involves agritourism activities on or off the location or at the site of the agritourism activity, shall contain in clearly readable print the notice specified in subsection B.

B. The signs and contracts described in subsection A shall contain the following a notice: composed of the word "WARNING" or "ATTENTION" followed by the words "Under Virginia law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity."

C. Failure to comply with the requirements concerning signs and notices provided in this section shall prevent an agritourism professional from invoking the privileges of immunity provided by this chapter.