Senate File 362 - EnrolledAn Actbarring claims against fairs for damages arising out of
the transmission of pathogens from certain animals housed on
the fairgrounds.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
   Section 1.  Section 673.1, Code 2017, is amended by adding
the following new subsections:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  5A.  “Domesticated animal pathogen”
or “pathogen” means a microorganism, biological agent, or
toxin causing disease, illness, or death to a human, if
the microorganism, biological agent, or toxin is primarily
transmitted by human contact with a domesticated animal, manure
from a domesticated animal, or other excretions or body fluids
from a domesticated animal.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  5B.  “Domesticated animal premises” or
“premises” means a location under the management or control of a
domesticated animal activity sponsor where domesticated animals
are regularly kept for three or more consecutive hours.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  6A.  “Fair authority” means the Iowa state
fair authority established in section 173.1 or a fair as
defined in section 174.1.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  6B.  “Fairgrounds” mean real estate under
the management or control of a fair authority, including land,
buildings, and improvements, and which includes but is not
limited to areas reserved for domesticated animal events or
domesticated animal activities.
   Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  673.4  Fairs — domesticated animal
premises — liability.
   1.  A fair authority is not liable for damages arising
from a claim by a participant or spectator alleging injury or
death caused by a domesticated animal pathogen transmitted at
a domesticated animal premises located on its fairgrounds.
This subsection applies regardless of whether a domesticated
animal is present on the domesticated animal premises, when
the domesticated animal pathogen is transmitted, or whether a
domesticated animal present on the domesticated animal premises
is engaged in a domesticated animal activity.
   2.   Subsection 1 does not apply to the extent that the
participant or spectator proves that the fair authority
failed to post a warning sign at a conspicuous place at the
-1-domesticated animal premises as required in section 673.5.
   Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  673.5  Warning sign — notice.
   A fair authority shall post a warning sign at a conspicuous
place on any domesticated animal premises located on the
fairgrounds. The warning sign shall be clearly visible to a
person visiting the premises for the first time. The sign
shall have a white background and the sign’s notice shall be
printed in black letters a minimum of one inch high in the
following form:
WARNING
DOMESTICATED ANIMAL PREMISES
Under Iowa Code chapter 673, the fair is not liable for a
domesticated animal pathogen transmitted from this domesticated
animal premises. Take necessary sanitary precautions including
by not touching your face or consuming food or water until
thoroughly cleansing and drying your hands after your visit.
As soon as possible after your visit, thoroughly cleanse your
hands using an appropriate soap and water and thoroughly dry
them after cleansing.
______________________________
JACK WHITVERPresident of the Senate
______________________________
LINDA UPMEYERSpeaker of the House
   I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and is known as Senate File 362, Eighty-seventh General Assembly.______________________________
W. CHARLES SMITHSONSecretary of the Senate
Approved _______________, 2017______________________________
TERRY E. BRANSTADGovernor
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