Rhode Island General Laws 7-6-9. Exemption from liability
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter:
(a) No person serving without compensation as a volunteer, director, officer, or trustee of a nonprofit corporation, including a corporation qualified as a tax-exempt corporation under § 501(c) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c), or of an unincorporated nonprofit organization or an unincorporated public charitable institution qualified as a tax-exempt organization under § 501(c) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, is liable to any person based solely on his or her conduct in the execution of the office or duty unless the conduct of the director, officer, trustee, or volunteer regarding the person asserting the liability constituted malicious, willful, or wanton misconduct. As used in this section, “compensation” does not include a per diem or per meeting allowance, health insurance benefits, or reimbursement for out of pocket costs and expenses incurred in the service. Nothing in these provisions is construed to exempt a volunteer from liability based upon his or her ownership and/or operation of a motor vehicle.
(b) Officers, directors, agents, servants, volunteers, and employees of a corporation are not liable for bodily injury to any person incurred while the person is practicing for, or participating in, any contest or exhibition of an athletic or sports nature sponsored by the corporation; provided, that the person has, or in the case of a minor, a parent or guardian of the minor has, signed a written waiver of liability of the corporation and acknowledgment of assumption of risk regarding the practicing for, or participating in, any contest or exhibition of an athletic or sports nature sponsored by the corporation.
History of Section.
P.L. 1984, ch. 380, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 444, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 472, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 522, § 3; P.L. 1988, ch. 573, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 186, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 380, § 1.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 7-6-9
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Director: means a member of a board of directors. See Rhode Island General Laws 7-6-2
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
- United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8
- Volunteer: means an individual performing services for a nonprofit corporation without compensation. See Rhode Island General Laws 7-6-2