Drowning Prompts Mo. Bill Requiring Water Park Insurance

For-profit swimming pools would need liability insurance under a bill headed to Missouri’s governor.

It was sparked by the drowning of 6-year-old Ethan Cory, of Joplin, while on a field trip to a privately owned water park. The Swimmin’ Hole’s owner didn’t have insurance.

State rules already require city pools, hotel pools and water parks in a theme park to have insurance. But pools that are privately owned and operating outside of the city currently aren’t covered.

The legislation requires private, for-profit water parks to have at least $1 million worth of liability insurance in case a customer dies or is injured.

The bill passed the Senate 27-6. It already cleared the House.

Latest Comments

• March 13, 2009 at 5:53 am

  Good Hands says:

  Careful who you accuse of being 'armchair people' Terry! Some of us posting on these articles are agency owners and employers; business operators ourselves. Some of us DO assi... read more
• March 11, 2009 at 8:02 am

  terry says:

  I ahve been in buisness 20 years and never once has my insurance company help me with any loss prevention or any way shape or form done any work to help with the risk they hav... read more
• May 15, 2008 at 2:14 am

  lastbat says:

  I didn't say this was bad legislation. I was just responding to michelle who said "While I strongly advocate purchasing insurance where risk cannot otherwise be managed, I'm ... read more