Lavielle Supports Bill Relieving Towns from Recreational Land Use Liability

Yesterday Representative Gail Lavielle (R-143) spoke strongly on the floor of the state House of Representatives in support of HB 6557, which would give towns and cities immunity in lawsuits related to injuries suffered on recreational land.  The bill passed in the House on Tuesday with broad bipartisan support.

Lavielle is a co-sponsor of the bill, which includes municipalities, political subdivisions of the state and special districts as owners of land entitled to immunity under the Recreational Land Use Act—which does offer that protection to individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and private utilities. The bill focuses on passive recreation areas, such as hiking trails like the Norwalk River Valley Trail, currently under consideration for development. Recreational facilities such as basketball courts and swimming pools are not included. Opposition by the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association had threatened to block the bill's progress through the General Assembly.

"I gave my strong support to this bill," said Rep. Lavielle, "because our towns and cities, which have been facing rising costs and uncertain revenues for a number of years, needed relief from exposure to potentially excessive legal costs, which can reach into the millions.  I am pleased to have worked with legislative colleagues on both sides of the aisle to defend our towns and cities against the narrow concerns of special interests.  Passing this bill is the right thing to do for our municipalities, particularly at a time when there is so much focus on health and wellness initiatives and on reducing automobile usage by facilitating the use of non-motorized modes of transportation like biking and walking.”

Representative Lavielle, who represents parts of Wilton and Norwalk, serves on the General Assembly’s Appropriations, Education, and Transportation Committees.