United States · Law · S
S. 543 (105th)
Volunteer Protection Act of 1997
Introduced
9 April 1997
Last action
18 June 1997 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 105-19.
Sponsors
Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA], Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Abraham, Spencer [R-MI], Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA], Sen. Ashcroft, John [R-MO], Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX], Sen. Hutchinson, Tim [R-AR], Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ], Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY], Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH], Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
7 April 2025
Summary
Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 - States that this Act preempts inconsistent State law except when such law provides additional protection from liability relating to volunteers, nonprofit organizations, or governmental entities. Exempts a volunteer of a nonprofit organization or governmental entity from liability for harm caused by an act or omission of the volunteer on behalf of such organization or entity if: (1) the volunteer was acting within the scope of his or her responsibilities at the time; (2) if appropriate or required, the volunteer was properly licensed or otherwise authorized for the activities or practice in the State in which the harm occurred; and (3) the harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed. Prohibits the award of punitive damages against a volunteer, organization, or entity unless the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm was proximately caused by an action of such volunteer which constitutes willful or criminal misconduct or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed. Provides exceptions. Makes each volunteer, organization, or entity liable for noneconomic loss only in the amount allocated to such defendant in direct proportion to the percentage of responsibility for the harm for which the defendant is liable. Requires the trier of fact to determine such percentage of responsibility.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
9 April 1997
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Source: Calendars
9 April 1997
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
10 April 1997
Calendars
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 38.
Source: Calendars
25 April 1997
Floor
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to consideration presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S3738-3739)
Source: Floor
28 April 1997
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3744-3748)
Source: Floor
29 April 1997
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3763-3773, S3778-3797)
Source: Floor
30 April 1997
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3810-3819, S3824-3831, S3833-3836)
Source: Floor
1 May 1997
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 99-1. Record Vote No: 55.
Source: Floor
1 May 1997
Floor
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S3861-3867, S3870-3880)
Source: Floor
2 May 1997
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
5 May 1997
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
5 May 1997
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Passed
Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4918)
Source: ResolvingDifferences
21 May 1997
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4918)
Source: NotUsed
21 May 1997
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Floor
A similar measure H.R. 911 was laid on the table without objection.
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Passed
On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Passed
The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 911. Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Floor
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H3118-3120)
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Floor
Mr. Inglis asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
Source: Floor
21 May 1997
Discharge
Committee on Judiciary discharged.
Source: Discharge
21 May 1997
Committee
Committee on Judiciary discharged.
Source: Committee
22 May 1997
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
12 June 1997
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
12 June 1997
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
18 June 1997
Became law
Became Public Law No: 105-19.
Source: President
18 June 1997
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
18 June 1997
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
1 May 1997 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill S. 543 · Bill Passed · Official source
Yes 99 · No 1 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0
- Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY]Yea
- Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]Yea
- Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]Yea
- Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]Yea
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Public Law · 18 June 1997 · Download file
- Enrolled Bill · 21 May 1997 · Download file
- Engrossed Amendment House · 21 May 1997 · Download file
- Referred in House · 5 May 1997 · Download file
- Engrossed in Senate · 1 May 1997 · Download file
- Placed on Calendar Senate · 10 April 1997 · Download file
Documents
15 official files
Public Law (text)
This file cannot be previewed here. Use View or Download.
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 18 June 1997
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 18 June 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Engrossed Amendment House (text)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 21 May 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 21 May 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN · 21 May 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN · 21 May 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 21 May 1997
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Referred in House (text)
Referred in House · EN · 5 May 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Referred in House (PDF)
Referred in House · EN · 5 May 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 1 May 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 1 May 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 1 May 1997
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Placed on Calendar Senate (text)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 10 April 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 10 April 1997
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 9 April 1997
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Abraham, Spencer [R-MI] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Ashcroft, John [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Hutchinson, Tim [R-AR] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL] · R · Cosponsor
- · hsju00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Volunteer Protection Act of 1997
- related to → Liability Reform for Volunteer Services Act
- related to ← Volunteer Protection Act of 1997
- amends ← In the nature of a substitute.
Related across the Repo ecosystem
Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.
Direct relationships
- Legal framework · Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 · S. 543 (105th) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 105-s-543 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/543
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/105/s/543
- us · 105-s-543 · source updated 7 April 2025