Gov. Crist Signs Florida Parental Waiver Bill

Businesses such as theme parks and go-cart tracks that offer potentially dangerous fun will regain liability protection for injuries to children that they lost due to a court ruling.

Gov. Charlie Crist has signed into law a bill (SB 2440) that allows parents to sign the waivers. The Florida Supreme Court two years ago invalidated the waivers because the state didn’t have a law allowing them.

It does now. The new law went into effect immediately with Crist’s signature.

Waivers, though, are be permitted only for what are known as “inherent risks” that are characteristic, or an integral part of, an activity such as falling off a jet ski or crashing a go-cart.

The bill was a compromise between business interests and trial lawyers who represent accident victims.