§ 9-1-48. Immunity from civil liability — Sports teams.
(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person who, without compensation and as a volunteer, renders services as a manager, coach, instructor, umpire, referee, or official or who, without compensation and as a volunteer, assists a manager, coach, instructor, umpire, referee, or official in a youth sports program organized and conducted by or under the auspices of a nonprofit corporation, and no director, trustee, officer, or employee of a nonprofit corporation which organizes, conducts, or sponsors a youth sports program, shall be liable to any person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in the rendering of such services or assistance or in the organization, conduct, or sponsorship of the youth sports program unless the acts or omissions of the person were committed in willful, wanton, or reckless disregard for the safety of the participants in the youth sports program. It shall be insufficient to impose liability upon any such person to establish only that the conduct of the person fell below ordinary standards of care.
(b) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person who renders services as a manager, coach, instructor, umpire, referee, or official or who assists a manager, coach, instructor, umpire, referee, or official in an interscholastic or intramural sports program organized and conducted in accordance with and subject to the rules, regulations, and jurisdiction of the Rhode Island interscholastic league, the committee on junior high school athletics, and/or the board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall be liable to any person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in the rendering of such services or assistance unless the acts or omissions of the person were committed in willful, wanton, or reckless disregard for the safety of the participants in the interscholastic or intramural sports program.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person, corporation, or other entity who or which causes injury or damage as the result of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
(d) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Compensation” shall not include reimbursement for reasonable expenses actually incurred or to be incurred or, solely in the case of umpires, referees, or other game officials, a modest honorarium.
(2) “Nonprofit corporation” shall include any nonprofit corporation or nonprofit association organized under the law of this state, or of any other state, or of the United States, which is authorized to do business in this state.
(3) “Youth sports program” shall include any program organized for recreational athletic competition, and/or instruction and whose participants are nineteen (19) years of age or younger or physically or mentally disabled regardless of age.
History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 307, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 311, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 7; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 7; P.L. 2012, ch. 415, § 16.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 9 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Procedure Generally
Chapter 9-1 - Causes of Action
Section 9-1-1. - Action on promissory note.
Section 9-1-2. - Civil liability for crimes and offenses.
Section 9-1-2.1. - Civil liability for stalking.
Section 9-1-3. - Liability of parents for torts of minors.
Section 9-1-3.1. - Liability of parents and unemancipated minors for torts to each other.
Section 9-1-4. - Statute of frauds.
Section 9-1-5. - Liability of landlord for improvements to real estate by tenant by oral lease.
Section 9-1-6. - Causes and actions surviving death of parties.
Section 9-1-7. - Prosecution and defense of actions by executor or administrator.
Section 9-1-8. - Actual damages only to be granted after death of party.
Section 9-1-9. - Survival of actions for the recovery of possession of land.
Section 9-1-10. - Settlement of real estate title in action involving executor or administrator.
Section 9-1-11. - Survival of claims for damages in laying out of highways.
Section 9-1-12. - When action is commenced for purposes of statute of limitations.
Section 9-1-13. - Limitation of actions generally — Product liability.
Section 9-1-14. - Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries.
Section 9-1-14.1. - Limitation on malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-14.2. - Limitation of “Agent Orange” or phenoxy herbicides actions.
Section 9-1-14.3. - Limitation on legal malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-14.4. - Limitations on home inspector malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-15, 9-1-16. - Repealed.
Section 9-1-17. - Limitation of actions on contracts or liabilities under seal and on judgments.
Section 9-1-18. - Effect of absence from state on limitations.
Section 9-1-19. - Disability postponing running of statute.
Section 9-1-20. - Time of accrual of concealed cause of action.
Section 9-1-21. - Effect of death of party on statute of limitations.
Section 9-1-22. - Extension of time after termination of action.
Section 9-1-23. - Effect of joinder of counts on limitation.
Section 9-1-24. - Special limitations provisions unaffected.
Section 9-1-25. - Time for bringing suit against state, political subdivision, city, or town.
Section 9-1-26. - Liability of hospitals.
Section 9-1-27. - Police and firefighters — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.1. - Good Samaritan — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.2. - Court appointed special advocate program — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.3. - Court appointed law clerk advocate program — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-28. - Action for unauthorized use of name, portrait, or picture.
Section 9-1-28.1. - Right to privacy — Action for deprivation of right.
Section 9-1-29. - Constructors of improvements to real property — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-31.1. - Members of public bodies — Exemption from liability.
Section 9-1-32. - Effect of alteration of product after sale.
Section 9-1-33. - Insurer’s bad faith refusal to pay a claim made under any insurance policy.
Section 9-1-35. - Civil action for ethnic or religious intimidation and/or vandalism.
Section 9-1-36. - Enumeration of statutes of limitation.
Section 9-1-37. - Enumeration of periods of appeal.
Section 9-1-38. - Limitation of actions for medical expenses incurred by minors.
Section 9-1-39. - Civil action for desecration.
Section 9-1-40. - Civil liability for nonpayment of accident and sickness insurance by employer.
Section 9-1-41. - Loss of consortium — Loss of society and companionship.
Section 9-1-43. - Civil action for childsnatching.
Section 9-1-44. - Civil action for release of names of minors.
Section 9-1-45. - Attorney’s fees in breach of contract actions.
Section 9-1-46. - Affirmative defense of trespasser’s intent to commit a crime.
Section 9-1-47. - Loss of homemaker services.
Section 9-1-48. - Immunity from civil liability — Sports teams.
Section 9-1-49. - Correct corporate name and registered agent — Duty to provide.
Section 9-1-50. - Settled claims not paid within thirty (30) days.
Section 9-1-51. - Limitation on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.
Section 9-1-52. - Cause of action for next lowest bidding qualified contractor.
Section 9-1-53. - Misclassification of employees — Civil action.
Section 9-1-54. - Civil action against employer by employee under subpoena.