AB 635 California Assembly · 2023-2024 Regular Session

Space flight liability and immunity.

Summary
Existing law limits the civil liability of a space flight entity, as defined, if the entity had a participant in space flight activities sign a warning statement, as specified. Existing law does not limit a space flight entity's civil liability, even if a participant signed the warning statement, if the entity had actual knowledge or reasonably should have known of a dangerous condition on the land or in the facilities or equipment used in the space flight activities and the dangerous condition proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant. Existing law does not limit the liability of a manufacturer of a part or component used in space flight activities if a defective part or component proximately causes injury to a participant. This bill would define a "space flight entity" to mean a public or private entity that holds, either directly or through a corporate subsidiary or parent, a license, permit, or other authorization issued under federal law, as specified. The bill would limit civil liability of a space flight entity if the space flight entity had a participant or crewmember in space flight activities sign a warning statement, as specified. The bill would not limit a space flight entity's civil liability, even if a participant or crewmember signed the warning statement, if the space flight entity had actual knowledge or reasonably should have known of an extraordinarily dangerous condition that is not inherent to space flight activities and the extraordinarily dangerous condition proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant. The bill would provide that a space flight entity is not strictly liable for personal injury or wrongful death resulting from space flight activities.
Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 9, 2023 Last action Feb 1, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Feb 1, 2024
Lower · Passed
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
lower
Apr 18, 2023
Committee
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
lower
Apr 17, 2023
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
lower
Mar 23, 2023
Lower · Passed
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
lower
Feb 17, 2023
Committee
Referred to Com. on JUD.
lower
Feb 10, 2023
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee March 12.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Vince Fong
Vince Fong
RRepublican
CA
32