SB159 is a bill that aims to amend current law regarding civil liability for contractors involved in the construction or maintenance of public roads. The bill includes insertions and deletions to provide further clarification on the liability of a public awarding authority and its contractors. It establishes a rebuttable presumption that the operator of a vehicle engaged in certain conduct or traveling at a high rate of speed is the proximate cause of any injury, damages, or wrongful death. The bill also requires plaintiffs to include detailed specifications and factual descriptions in their complaints, and provides protections for contractors from civil liability for certain claims made by noncontractual third parties. These provisions only apply to causes of action that accrue after April 24, 2012.

Overall, the bill seeks to provide clarity and protections for public awarding authorities and their contractors in relation to the construction and maintenance of public roads.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6-5-700, 6-5-702, 6-5-703
Engrossed: 6-5-700, 6-5-701, 6-5-702, 6-5-703, 6-5-704, 6-5-705, 6-5-708, 6-5-700, 6-5-701, 6-5-702, 6-5-703, 6-5-704, 6-5-705, 6-5-708
Enrolled: 6-5-700, 6-5-701, 6-5-702, 6-5-703, 6-5-704, 6-5-705, 6-5-708, 6-5-700, 6-5-701, 6-5-702, 6-5-703, 6-5-704, 6-5-705, 6-5-708