HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania State Grange is urging the PA House of Representatives to pass legislation that would provide limited civil liability to farmers seeking to provide agritourism and/or agri-entertainment to the general public. A letter was sent to Representatives September 11.
The bill is House Bill 1348 sponsored by Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland). Its rationale is that farmers are struggling and need to develop other sources of income to keep the family farm in operation. The Grange letter said that threat of frivolous lawsuits is a barrier and suggests that: ‘Agritourism and agri-entertainment can bring in new income IF a farmer does not fear that a frivolous lawsuit will take away their farm. A farmer should take reasonable steps to protect visitors from hurting themselves with fences, warning signs, etc. What House Bill 1348 does is to protect the farmer from a lawsuit by someone who acts in an unsafe manner, gets hurt, and then sues the farmer’.
(Wayne Campbell, Pennsylvania State Grange president)
House Bill 1348 is scheduled for a House vote on Wednesday September 16. Currently, the bill has 63 sponsors.
The Grange letter concludes by saying, ‘Agriculture supports Pennsylvania. The General Assembly should do everything it can to protect farmers in these vulnerable times.’
Following is a link to the legislation and to Rep. Gleim’s sponsorship memo.
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2019&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1348
–Pennsylvania State Grange
