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1996 SESSION

961871136
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 87
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Brickley)
House Amendments in [ ] -- February 9, 1996
Requesting the Board of Housing and Community Development to study spectator safety at certain racing competitions.

WHEREAS, on May 6, 1995, three people were killed and six others injured when an off-the-road racing vehicle, participating in a race at the Bodatious Motor Sports Park in Cumberland County vaulted over the guard rail; and

WHEREAS, the physical condition of the race track, the construction of and modifications to the participating vehicles, the proximity of the spectators to the race track, and the construction and location of barriers separating the spectators from the race track all combined to produce tragic results; and

WHEREAS, it is highly desirable that the appropriate steps be promptly taken to ensure the safety of spectators at similar events in the future; and

WHEREAS, while no single agency of state government is charged with unified and comprehensive responsibility for the safety and protection of spectators at racing competitions or similar spectator sporting events, the Board of Housing and Community Development, through § 36-98.3 of the Code of Virginia, is involved with amusement park safety through its power and duty to promulgate regulations relating to safety of amusement rides, the Board of Housing and Community Development is also responsible, through its responsibilities relating to the Uniform Statewide Building Code, for safety of many structures other than enclosed buildings, and the Department of Motor Vehicles Board of Transportation Safety and Crash Investigation Team have responsibilities and expertise that may productively be brought to bear on spectator safety at racing competitions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Board of Housing and Community Development be requested to study spectator safety at racing competitions. The Board shall focus particularly on events involving "monster cars" and "mud dragsters," and shall consider whether some form of regulation of these events and the facilities where these events are held is in the interest of reducing the risk of injury to spectators. [ However, speedways and race tracks where races sanctioned by NASCAR are held shall be excluded from this study. ] The Department of Motor Vehicles' Board of Transportation Safety and Crash Investigation Team, and such other agencies as may have experience or expertise relevant to this study shall assist the Board, upon request.

The Board shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1997 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.