Volunteer Protection Act of 1997

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

1. 9 April 1997

   Introduced

   Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

   Source: Calendars

2. 9 April 1997

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 10 April 1997

   Calendars

   Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 38.

   Source: Calendars

4. 25 April 1997

   Floor

   Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to consideration presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S3738-3739)

   Source: Floor

5. 28 April 1997

   Floor

   Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3744-3748)

   Source: Floor

6. 29 April 1997

   Floor

   Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3763-3773, S3778-3797)

   Source: Floor

7. 30 April 1997

   Floor

   Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3810-3819, S3824-3831, S3833-3836)

   Source: Floor

8. 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

9. 1 May 1997

   Floor

   Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S3861-3867, S3870-3880)

   Source: Floor

10. 2 May 1997

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

11. 5 May 1997

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

12. 5 May 1997

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

13. 21 May 1997

    Passed

    Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4918)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

14. 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

15. 21 May 1997

    Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

    Source: Floor

16. 21 May 1997

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

17. 21 May 1997

    Floor

    A similar measure H.R. 911 was laid on the table without objection.

    Source: Floor

18. 21 May 1997

    Passed

    On passage Passed without objection.

    Source: Floor

19. 21 May 1997

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.

    Source: Floor

20. 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. 21 May 1997

    Floor

    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H3118-3120)

    Source: Floor

22. 21 May 1997

    Floor

    Mr. Inglis asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

    Source: Floor

23. 21 May 1997

    Discharge

    Committee on Judiciary discharged.

    Source: Discharge

24. 21 May 1997

    Committee

    Committee on Judiciary discharged.

    Source: Committee

25. 22 May 1997

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

26. 12 June 1997

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

27. 12 June 1997

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

28. 18 June 1997

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 105-19.

    Source: President

29. 18 June 1997

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

30. 18 June 1997

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

Versions

• Public Law · 18 June 1997 · Official file
• Enrolled Bill · 21 May 1997 · Official file
• Engrossed Amendment House · 21 May 1997 · Official file
• Referred in House · 5 May 1997 · Official file
• Engrossed in Senate · 1 May 1997 · Official file
• Placed on Calendar Senate · 10 April 1997 · Official file

Documents

15 official files

• Public Law (text)

  Public Law · EN · 18 June 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 18 June 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed Amendment House (text)

  Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 21 May 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)

  Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 21 May 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Enrolled Bill (text)

  Enrolled Bill · EN · 21 May 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Enrolled Bill (PDF)

  Enrolled Bill · EN · 21 May 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 21 May 1997

  Open at official source

• Referred in House (text)

  Referred in House · EN · 5 May 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Referred in House (PDF)

  Referred in House · EN · 5 May 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in Senate (text)

  Engrossed in Senate · EN · 1 May 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

  Engrossed in Senate · EN · 1 May 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 1 May 1997

  Open at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 10 April 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 10 April 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 9 April 1997

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA] · R · Sponsor
• Mitch McConnell · 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
• Rep. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ-4] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Gregg, Judd [R-NH-2] · 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