[20040915]RS21933_“好心人”侵权改革：三份众议院法案.pdf

1 42 U.S.C. 14501-14505. For additional information on the VPA, see CRS Report 97-490.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21933Updated September 15, 2004“Good Samaritan” Tort Reform: Three House Billsname redactedLegislative AttorneyAmerican Law DivisionSummaryOn September 8, 2004, the House Committee on the Judiciary ordered to bereported three 108th Congress tort reform bills: the Volunteer Pilot OrganizationProtection Act (H.R. 1084), the Good Samaritan Firefighter Assistance Act of 2003(H.R. 1787), and the Nonprofit Athletic Organization Protection Act of 2003 (H.R.3369). On September 14, the House passed H.R. 1084 and H.R. 1787, but failed to passH.R. 3369. Tort law is primarily state law, and federal tort reform bills such as these aregenerally designed to limit liability under state tort law. H.R. 1084The Volunteer Pilot Organization Protection Act (H.R. 1084) would amend theVolunteer Protection Act of 1997.1 The VPA provides immunity for ordinary negligenceto volunteers of nonprofit organizations or governmental entities acting within the scopeof their responsibilities, provided that, “if appr