SB230 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to amusement rides and water slides; to impose new safety requirements pertaining to the operation and maintenance of amusement rides and water slides.

Summary

SB230 would require safety standards, inspections, insurance, and conduct rules for amusement rides and water slides in Alabama, using established ASTM guidelines to govern operation and maintenance.

What This Bill Does

It adopts specific ASTM standards (F770-22, F2376-22, F747-22) for ownership, operation, maintenance, and water slide systems, and defines key terms like amusement ride, water slide, and qualified inspector. It requires annual inspections by a qualified inspector, issuance of an inspection certificate if safe, and new inspections after major modifications, with unsafe rides needing rectification before certification. It also mandates daily pre-opening inspections, keeps inspection records for three years, and requires owners to maintain minimum liability insurance; patrons must follow posted rules and may be removed for violations.

Who It Affects

• Owners and operators of amusement rides and water slides in Alabama, who must arrange qualified inspections, obtain and maintain inspection certificates and insurance, keep records, and enforce safety and conduct rules.
• Patrons of amusement rides and water slides, who must obey signs and directions, use safety equipment, and may be removed from facilities for safety violations.

Key Provisions

• Adopts ASTM standards F770-22 (ownership, operation, maintenance, inspection), F2376-22 (classification, design, manufacture, construction, operation of water slide systems), and F747-22 (terminology relating to amusement rides and devices).
• Creates definitions for amusement ride, water slide, coin-operated amusement ride, inflatable amusement device, nonmechanized playground equipment, operator, owner, qualified inspector, and water slide, including specific exclusions for certain ride types.
• Requires qualified inspectors (professional engineers or inspectors not employed by the owner and with at least a Level 1 maintenance certification from AIMS International or NASRO) to inspect all amusement rides and water slides at least once every 12 months and to issue an inspection certificate if the ride is substantially safe and compliant.
• Prohibits operation of any amusement ride or water slide for the public without a valid inspection certificate; if an unsafe condition is found, the inspector must notify the owner and no certificate can be issued until the unsafe condition is fixed to the inspector’s satisfaction.
• Authorizes inspection fees determined by the qualified inspector, paid by the ride or slide owner.
• Requires daily pre-opening inspections of each ride and slide, in line with specified ASTM standards, with records kept for at least three years.
• mandates that ride and slide owners maintain liability insurance during operation with minimum limits of $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death of one person and $1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death of two or more persons, with coverage from an insurer authorized to write such insurance in Alabama.
• Establishes patron conduct rules: riders must follow signs and operator instructions, use safety devices, refrain from dangerous or disruptive behavior, not disable safety devices, not extend limbs beyond seating areas, not throw objects, not enter/exit except as directed or in emergencies, not control speed/direction where prohibited, and not ride under the influence; violators may be removed immediately without refund.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.