(a) A ski area operator shall prepare a plan of operation for each ski season and shall implement the plan throughout the ski season. A plan of operation must include written provisions for ski patrol, avalanche control, avalanche rescue, grooming procedures, tramway evacuation, hazard marking, missing person procedures, and first aid. Before the operation of the ski area for that season, the plan shall be reviewed and approved by the commissioner of natural resources except that if an agency of the United States manages the land on which the ski area operates, the plan shall be reviewed and approved by that agency. The commissioner of natural resources may require a ski area operator to pay a fee not to exceed the department's cost of reviewing the plan, and may adopt regulations to implement this subsection.
(b) A ski area operator shall provide a ski patrol whose members meet or exceed the training standards of the National Ski Patrol System, Inc. This subsection does not apply to a ski area if the operator transports skiers using only a single tramway consisting of a rope tow, the rope tow does not transport skiers more than 500 vertical feet, and the ski area is operated by a nonprofit corporation or a municipality. In this subsection, “nonprofit corporation” means a corporation that qualifies for exemption from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or (4) (Internal Revenue Code).
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the state and the commissioner of natural resources are not civilly liable for damages resulting from an act or omission in reviewing, approving, or disapproving a plan of operation under (a) of this section.
Structure Alaska Statutes
Title 5. Amusements and Sports
Chapter 45. Ski Liability, Safety, and Responsibility
Sec. 05.45.010. Limitation on actions arising from skiing.
Sec. 05.45.020. Effect of violations.
Sec. 05.45.030. Duties of passengers.
Sec. 05.45.040. Required plan and patrol by ski area operators.
Sec. 05.45.050. Required signs for tramways; duties of operators.
Sec. 05.45.060. Required signs for trails and slopes; duties of operators.
Sec. 05.45.070. Other duties of ski area operators.
Sec. 05.45.080. Skiers outside marked boundaries.
Sec. 05.45.090. Reckless skiers; revocation of skiing privileges.
Sec. 05.45.100. Duties and responsibilities of skiers.
Sec. 05.45.110. Competition; immunity for ski area operator.