Chapter 115

HOUSE BILL No. 2795 *

An Act concerning civil procedure; relating to immunity from liability for volunteers of nonprofit homeowners associations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

Section 1. (a) As used in this section:

(1) ``Nonprofit homeowners organization'' means those nonprofit or- ganizations exempt from federal income tax pursuant to section 528 of the internal revenue code of 1986, as in effect on the effective date of this act.

(2) ``Compensation'' does not include actual and necessary expenses that are incurred by a volunteer in connection with the services that the volunteer performs for a nonprofit homeowners organization and that are reimbursed to the volunteer or otherwise paid.

(3) ``Volunteer'' means an officer, director, trustee or other person who performs services for a nonprofit homeowners organization but does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, for those services.

(b) A volunteer of a nonprofit homeowners organization shall not be liable for damages in a civil action for acts or omissions as such volunteer unless: (1) Such conduct constitutes willful or wanton misconduct or in- tentionally tortious conduct; or (2) such volunteer is required to be in- sured by law or is otherwise insured against such acts or omissions but, in such case, liability shall be only to the extent of the insurance coverage.

(c) A volunteer of a nonprofit homeowners organization shall not be liable for damages in a civil action for the actions or omissions of any of the officers, directors, trustees, employees or other volunteers of the non- profit organization unless: (1) The volunteer authorizes, approves, ratifies or otherwise actively participates in the action or omission and the action or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct or intentionally tor- tious conduct; or (2) such volunteer is required to be insured by law or is otherwise insured against such acts or omissions but, in such case, liability shall be only to the extent of the insurance coverage.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the liability of a nonprofit homeowners organization for damages caused by the negli- gent or wrongful act or omission of its volunteer and a volunteer's neg- ligence or wrongful act or omission, when acting as a volunteer, shall be imputed to the nonprofit homeowners organization for the purpose of apportioning liability for damages to a third party pursuant to K.S.A. 60- 258a, and amendments thereto.

(e) The provisions of this section shall apply only to causes of action accruing on or after July 1, 1996.

Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book.

Approved April 3, 1996.