S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2203
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. MANKTELOW, DeSTEFANO, HAWLEY, REILLY, SMULLEN,
   MILLER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
 
 AN ACT to amend the not-for-profit corporation law and the general obli-
   gations law, in relation to  exempting  volunteer  coaches,  managers,
   referees, assistants and members of the board of directors for certain
   youths  programs  from  civil  liability  while  providing services or
   assistance to a player or participant
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The not-for-profit corporation law is amended by adding a
 new section 727 to read as follows:
 § 727. EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN PERSONS FROM CIVIL LIABILITY.
   (A) DEFINITIONS:
   (1) YOUTHS PROGRAM. A  YOUTHS  PROGRAM  SHALL  MEAN  ANY  RECREATIONAL
 ACTIVITY WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, THE GIRL SCOUTS
 OF AMERICA, THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS, YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, YOUNG
 WOMEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION,  YOUNG  MEN'S HEBREW ASSOCIATION, YOUNG
 WOMEN'S HEBREW ASSOCIATION, CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION, KIWANIS  INTER-
 NATIONAL,  HI-Y OR OTHER SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT LIMITATION TO THE
 FOREGOING FOR THE RECREATIONAL OR ATHLETIC BENEFIT OF  PERSONS  EIGHTEEN
 YEARS OF AGE OR LESS.
   (2) COMPENSATION. COMPENSATION SHALL MEAN THE EARNINGS OF A PERSON FOR
 LABOR  OR  SERVICES,  BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REASONABLE
 EXPENSES ACTUALLY INCURRED.
   (B) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, AND  NOTWITHSTANDING
 ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NO PERSON WHO WITHOUT COMPENSATION
 THEREFOR  AND ACTING AS A VOLUNTEER RENDERS SERVICES WITHIN AN ORGANIZED
 YOUTHS PROGRAM AS A  LEADER,  COACH,  MANAGER,  UMPIRE,  REFEREE  OR  AN
 ASSISTANT  THERETO,  OR  WHO  SERVES  ON  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SUCH
 PROGRAM SHALL BE LIABLE IN ANY CIVIL ACTION FOR DAMAGES TO A PARTICIPANT
 IN SUCH PROGRAM AS A RESULT OF SUCH PERSON'S ACTS OF COMMISSION OR OMIS-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01874-01-5
              

 A. 2203                             2
 
 SION ARISING OUT OF AND IN THE COURSE OF SUCH PERSON'S RENDERING OF SUCH
 SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE RELATING THERETO.
   (C)  NOTHING  IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO GRANT IMMUNITY TO ANY
 PERSON CAUSING DAMAGE OR INJURY AS A RESULT OF  SUCH  PERSON'S  WILLFUL,
 WANTON OR GROSSLY NEGLIGENT ACTS OF COMMISSION OR OMISSION.
   § 2. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new article 10
 to read as follows:
                                 ARTICLE 10
             EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN PERSONS FROM CIVIL LIABILITY
                   PERSONS ASSISTING IN SPORTS PROGRAMS
 SECTION 10-101. DEFINITIONS.
         10-102. IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.
   §  10-101.  DEFINITIONS.  AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS
 SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   1. YOUTHS PROGRAM. A YOUTHS PROGRAM SHALL MEAN ANY RECREATIONAL ACTIV-
 ITY WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, THE GIRL  SCOUTS  OF
 AMERICA,  THE  CAMPFIRE  GIRLS, YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, YOUNG
 WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, YOUNG  MEN'S  HEBREW  ASSOCIATION,  YOUNG
 WOMEN'S  HEBREW ASSOCIATION, CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION, KIWANIS INTER-
 NATIONAL, HI-Y OR OTHER SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT LIMITATION TO  THE
 FOREGOING  FOR  THE RECREATIONAL OR ATHLETIC BENEFIT OF PERSONS EIGHTEEN
 YEARS OF AGE OR LESS.
   2. COMPENSATION. COMPENSATION SHALL MEAN THE EARNINGS OF A PERSON  FOR
 LABOR  OR  SERVICES,  BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REASONABLE
 EXPENSES ACTUALLY INCURRED.
   § 10-102. IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY. 1. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED  IN
 THIS  ARTICLE, AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY,
 NO PERSON WHO WITHOUT COMPENSATION THEREFOR AND ACTING  AS  A  VOLUNTEER
 RENDERS  SERVICES WITHIN AN ORGANIZED YOUTHS PROGRAM AS A LEADER, COACH,
 MANAGER, UMPIRE, REFEREE OR AN ASSISTANT THERETO, OR WHO SERVES  ON  THE
 BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS OF SUCH PROGRAM SHALL BE LIABLE IN ANY CIVIL ACTION
 FOR DAMAGES TO A PARTICIPANT  IN  SUCH  PROGRAM  AS  A  RESULT  OF  SUCH
 PERSON'S  ACT OF COMMISSION OR OMISSION ARISING OUT OF AND IN THE COURSE
 OF SUCH PERSON'S RENDERING OF SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE RELATING THERETO.
   2. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO GRANT  IMMUNITY  TO  ANY
 PERSON  CAUSING  DAMAGE  OR INJURY AS A RESULT OF SUCH PERSON'S WILLFUL,
 WANTON OR GROSSLY NEGLIGENT ACTS OF COMMISSION OR OMISSION.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.