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Massachusetts passes limited liability law
EQUINE SCIENCE UPDATE
NEW PRESIDENTAND CONGRESS PRESENT NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR HORSE INDUSTRY A new administration under President Bill Clinton and a new Congress with 121 freshmen began in Januaryand both promised to "hit the ground running." It has been twelve years since the same party has controlled both the executive and legislative branches and it remains to be seen whether this will break the legislative gridlock that many Americans feel characterized President Bush's presidency. The feeling in Washington is that it will and that legislation, particularly in the economic area, will be passed quickly. President Clinton has indicated his desire to enact a package that will stimulate the economy, provide jobs and reduce the national debt. AHC members must work to ensure that horses are included in any plan to promote investment proposed by the new administration and enacted by Congress. There are 110 new members of the House of Representatives. This represents a 25% turnover, the largest group of new members in 45 years. There are more women (24), African Americans (16) and Hispauics (8) among the new members than ever before. One out of four members of the full House will be a woman or minority. Twenty-five percent of the House is from California, which picked up seven Congressional seats in the 1990 redistricting; from Florida which picked up four new seats; and from Texas which picked up three. There are eleven new members of the Senate, including four women, one African American and one Native American. Although these new members generally campaigned against Washington and for change, it remains to be seen exactly how much they will push for
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restructuring Congress and its seniority system itself. Half of the new members served in state legislatures and another fifth were city and county officials. So they are familiarwith the legislative process, recoonize its foibles and shortcomings, and will likely be willing to work through them rather than change them. Early signals from the organizational meetings of the new Congress suggest that the anti-Washington and anti-system fervor may have subsided with few incumbent committee chairmenbeingreplacedunwillingly. Butthe new members recognize that results are important to change the public's perception of Congressional gridlock and they will want results before they go back to the voters in 1994. So an active Congress is anticipated. These new administration and members offer challenges and opportunities: challenges to potential changes in the lobbying process and opportunities in that there are 121 new members of Congress who need to be educated about the horse industry. AHC members should write their members now, whether new or not, and let them know how large and important the horse industry is in their district and state. Now is when the groundwork should be done for the new Congress. Explain to your representatives that you are part of an important industry that provides investment, jobs, a broad tax base and tax revenue to the local, state and federal government. Describe how you have been affected by the economy and changes in the tax laws, and request that horses and other farm assets be included in any proposal that is intended to stimulate the economy. An investment tax credit or allowance has been described as the centerpiece of any economic plan offered by President Clinton. A reduction in the capital gains tax has also been mentioned. Both would be helpful to the horse industry. Any AHC members who need help with their message may contact the AHC.
MASSACHUSETTS PASSES LIMITED UABILITY LAW Horse owners, stable operators, instructors and everyone involved in the horse industry in Massachusetts can cheer the passage of House #3767, the Equine Liability legislation filed by the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation. The bill was signed into law on November 16, 1992 by Governor William F. Weld. The new law contained an "Emergency Preamble," meaning that it became effective with the Governor's signature, rather than after the usual 90-day delay. Thus, the law is already in effect. The liability law defines the inherent risks of participation in equine activities and restricts the liability of equine professionals and activity sponsors in cases where participants properly notified as to these risks become injured or killed through no negligence on the part of the professionals or sponsors. The law requires a Warning Statement to be posted in stables, arenas and activity areas and the same warning to appear on all boarding agreements, entry blanks and other documents between the impacted parties. This statement is as follows: Warning: Under Massachusetts law, an equine professional is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities, pursuant to Chapter 128, Section 2D of the General Laws. Copies of the law are available from the office of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 651, Bedford, MA 01730 or 617-275-4374. Additional information is available by contacting Doug Gillespie, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation's Director of Governmental Relations at the above address or phone number.
JOURNALOF EQUINEVETERINARYSCIENCE
NEW PRESIDENTAND CONGRESS PRESENT NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR HORSE INDUSTRY A new administration under President Bill Clinton and a new Congress with 121 freshmen began in Januaryand both promised to "hit the ground running." It has been twelve years since the same party has controlled both the executive and legislative branches and it remains to be seen whether this will break the legislative gridlock that many Americans feel characterized President Bush's presidency. The feeling in Washington is that it will and that legislation, particularly in the economic area, will be passed quickly. President Clinton has indicated his desire to enact a package that will stimulate the economy, provide jobs and reduce the national debt. AHC members must work to ensure that horses are included in any plan to promote investment proposed by the new administration and enacted by Congress. There are 110 new members of the House of Representatives. This represents a 25% turnover, the largest group of new members in 45 years. There are more women (24), African Americans (16) and Hispauics (8) among the new members than ever before. One out of four members of the full House will be a woman or minority. Twenty-five percent of the House is from California, which picked up seven Congressional seats in the 1990 redistricting; from Florida which picked up four new seats; and from Texas which picked up three. There are eleven new members of the Senate, including four women, one African American and one Native American. Although these new members generally campaigned against Washington and for change, it remains to be seen exactly how much they will push for
116
restructuring Congress and its seniority system itself. Half of the new members served in state legislatures and another fifth were city and county officials. So they are familiarwith the legislative process, recoonize its foibles and shortcomings, and will likely be willing to work through them rather than change them. Early signals from the organizational meetings of the new Congress suggest that the anti-Washington and anti-system fervor may have subsided with few incumbent committee chairmenbeingreplacedunwillingly. Butthe new members recognize that results are important to change the public's perception of Congressional gridlock and they will want results before they go back to the voters in 1994. So an active Congress is anticipated. These new administration and members offer challenges and opportunities: challenges to potential changes in the lobbying process and opportunities in that there are 121 new members of Congress who need to be educated about the horse industry. AHC members should write their members now, whether new or not, and let them know how large and important the horse industry is in their district and state. Now is when the groundwork should be done for the new Congress. Explain to your representatives that you are part of an important industry that provides investment, jobs, a broad tax base and tax revenue to the local, state and federal government. Describe how you have been affected by the economy and changes in the tax laws, and request that horses and other farm assets be included in any proposal that is intended to stimulate the economy. An investment tax credit or allowance has been described as the centerpiece of any economic plan offered by President Clinton. A reduction in the capital gains tax has also been mentioned. Both would be helpful to the horse industry. Any AHC members who need help with their message may contact the AHC.
MASSACHUSETTS PASSES LIMITED UABILITY LAW Horse owners, stable operators, instructors and everyone involved in the horse industry in Massachusetts can cheer the passage of House #3767, the Equine Liability legislation filed by the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation. The bill was signed into law on November 16, 1992 by Governor William F. Weld. The new law contained an "Emergency Preamble," meaning that it became effective with the Governor's signature, rather than after the usual 90-day delay. Thus, the law is already in effect. The liability law defines the inherent risks of participation in equine activities and restricts the liability of equine professionals and activity sponsors in cases where participants properly notified as to these risks become injured or killed through no negligence on the part of the professionals or sponsors. The law requires a Warning Statement to be posted in stables, arenas and activity areas and the same warning to appear on all boarding agreements, entry blanks and other documents between the impacted parties. This statement is as follows: Warning: Under Massachusetts law, an equine professional is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities, pursuant to Chapter 128, Section 2D of the General Laws. Copies of the law are available from the office of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 651, Bedford, MA 01730 or 617-275-4374. Additional information is available by contacting Doug Gillespie, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation's Director of Governmental Relations at the above address or phone number.
JOURNALOF EQUINEVETERINARYSCIENCE