Chapter 895

895.51(1)(d) (d) “Food products” has the meaning specified in s. 93.01 (6).

895.51(1)(dm) (dm) “Governmental unit” means the United States; the state; any county, city, village, or town; any political subdivision, department, division, board, or agency of the United States, the state, or any county, city, village, or town; or any federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state or an agency of the tribe or band.

895.51(1)(dp) (dp) “Public health emergency related to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic” means the period covered by the public health emergency declared under 42 USC 247d by the secretary of the federal department of health and human services on January 31, 2020, in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or the national emergency declared by the U.S. president under 50 USC 1621 on March 13, 2020, in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus.

895.51(1)(dr) (dr) “Qualified emergency household products” includes flashlights, generators, blankets, personal care products, household cleaning products, and emergency supplies that meet the standards for safety and quality established by federal or state law, regulation, or rule, that are not defective, and that have not been recalled by the consumer products safety commission.

895.51(1)(e) (e) “Qualified food” means food products that meet the standards of quality established by state law or rule or federal law or regulations, including food products that are not readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplusage or other condition, except that “qualified food” does not include canned food products that are leaking, swollen, dented on a seam or not airtight.

895.51(2) (2) Any person engaged in the processing, distribution, or sale of food products, for profit or not for profit, who donates or sells, at a price not to exceed overhead and transportation costs, qualified food to a charitable organization, food distribution service, or governmental unit is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the qualified food donated or sold by the person.

895.51(2m) (2m) Any person engaged in the manufacturing, distribution, or sale of qualified emergency household products, for profit or not for profit, who donates or sells, at a price not to exceed overhead and transportation costs, qualified emergency household products to a charitable organization or governmental unit in response to a state of emergency declared under s. 323.10 or 323.11 is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the qualified emergency household product donated or sold by the person.

895.51(2r) (2r) Any person engaged in the manufacturing, distribution, or sale of emergency medical supplies, who donates or sells, at a price not to exceed the cost of production, emergency medical supplies to a charitable organization or governmental unit to respond to the public health emergency related to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the emergency medical supplies donated or sold by the person.

895.51(3) (3) Any charitable organization or food distribution service which distributes free of charge qualified food to any person is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the qualified food distributed by the charitable organization or food distribution service.

895.51(3m) (3m) Any charitable organization that distributes free of charge qualified emergency household products received under sub. (2m) is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the qualified emergency household product distributed by the charitable organization.

895.51(3r) (3r) Any charitable organization that distributes free of charge emergency medical supplies received under sub. (2r) is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the emergency medical supplies distributed by the charitable organization.

895.51(4) (4) This section does not apply if the death or injury was caused by willful or wanton acts or omissions.

895.51 History History: 1981 c. 219; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (20); 1987 a. 27; 1987 a. 312 s. 17; 1989 a. 108; 1991 a. 39; 2005 a. 155; 2007 a. 79; 2009 a. 42, 180; 2019 a. 185.

895.512 895.512 Civil liability exemption; access to toilet facility. If an employee of a retail establishment permits a person to use the establishment’s toilet facility, under the requirements of s. 146.29, the employee and the establishment are immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to the person, or an individual other than an employee who accompanies the person, that is caused by or during the use of the facility, unless the death or injury was caused by a willful or wanton act or omission of the employee.

895.512 History History: 2009 a. 198.

895.514 895.514 Civil liability exemption; Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan and Authority.

895.514(1) (1) In this section:

895.514(1)(a) (a) “Authority” means the Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan Authority established under subch. III of ch. 149, 2011 stats.

895.514(1)(b) (b) “Board” means the board of directors of the authority.

895.514(1)(c) (c) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of insurance of this state.

895.514(1)(d) (d) “Plan” means the health care insurance plan established under subch. II of ch. 149, 2011 stats.

895.514(2) (2) No cause of action of any nature may arise against, and no liability may be imposed upon, the authority, plan, or board; or any agent, employee, or director of any of them; or insurers participating in the plan; or the commissioner; or any agent, employee, or representative of the commissioner, for any act or omission by any of them in the performance of their powers and duties under ch. 149, 2011 stats., under 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, section 9122 (1L), or under 2013 Wisconsin Act 116, section 32 (1) (b), unless the person asserting liability proves that the act or omission constitutes willful misconduct.

895.514(3) (3) 

895.514(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, section 9122 (1L), and 2013 Wisconsin Act 116, section 32 (1) (b), neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state nor any officer, employee, or agent of the state or a political subdivision acting within the scope of employment or agency is liable for any debt, obligation, act, or omission of the authority.

895.514(3)(b) (b) All of the expenses incurred by the authority, or the commissioner, or any agent, employee, or representative of the commissioner, in exercising its duties and powers under ch. 149, 2011 stats., under 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, section 9122 (1L), or under 2013 Wisconsin Act 116, section 32 (1) (b), shall be payable only from funds of the authority.

895.514 History History: 2013 a. 20, 116; 2015 a. 55, 85.

895.515 895.515 Civil liability exemption; equipment or technology donation.

895.515(1) (1) In this section:

895.515(1)(a) (a) “Commercial equipment or technology” means goods or related procedures used or bought for use primarily in a business, including farming and a profession.

895.515(1)(b) (b) “Institution of higher education” means an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in this state.

895.515(2) (2) Any person engaged in the sale or use of commercial equipment or technology, for profit or not for profit, who donates any commercial equipment or technology to a public or private elementary or secondary school, a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), or an institution of higher education or who accepts reimbursement in an amount not to exceed overhead and transportation costs for any commercial equipment or technology provided to a public or private elementary or secondary school, to a tribal school, or to an institution of higher education is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the commercial equipment or technology.

895.515(3) (3) This section does not apply if the death or injury was caused by a willful or wanton act or omission of the person who donated or accepted reimbursement for the commercial equipment or technology.

895.515(4m) (4m) This section does not apply to the manufacturer of the donated commercial equipment or technology.

895.515 History History: 1995 a. 112; 1997 a. 237; 2005 a. 155; 2009 a. 302.

895.517 895.517 Civil liability exemption: solid waste donation or sale.

895.517(1) (1) In this section:

895.517(1)(a) (a) “Charitable organization” has the meaning given in s. 895.51 (1) (b).

895.517(1)(b) (b) “Municipality” has the meaning given in s. 289.01 (23).

895.517(1)(c) (c) “Qualified food” has the meaning given in s. 895.51 (1) (e).

895.517(1)(d) (d) “Responsible unit” has the meaning given in s. 287.01 (9).

895.517(1)(e) (e) “Solid waste” has the meaning given in s. 289.01 (33).

895.517(2) (2) Any person who donates or sells, at a price not exceeding overhead and transportation costs, solid waste, or a material that is separated from mixed soil waste, to a materials reuse program that is operated by a charitable organization, municipality or responsible unit is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual or the damage to property caused by the solid waste or material donated or sold by the person.

895.517(3) (3) This section does not apply if the death or injury was caused by willful or wanton acts or omissions.

895.517(4) (4) This section does not apply to the sale or donation of qualified food.

895.517 History History: 1997 a. 60; 2005 a. 155.

895.519 895.519 Civil liability exemption; private campgrounds.

895.519(1) (1) In this section:

895.519(1)(am) (am) “Inherent risk of camping” means a danger or condition that is an integral part of camping, including dangers posed by any of the following:

895.519(1)(am)1. 1. Features of the natural world, such as trees, tree stumps, roots, brush, rocks, mud, sand, and soil.

895.519(1)(am)2. 2. Uneven or unpredictable terrain.

895.519(1)(am)3. 3. Natural bodies of water.

895.519(1)(am)4. 4. Another camper or visitor at the private campground acting in a negligent manner, where the campground owner or employees are not involved.

895.519(1)(am)5. 5. A lack of lighting, including lighting at campsites.

895.519(1)(am)6. 6. Campfires in a fire pit or enclosure provided by the campground.

895.519(1)(am)7. 7. Weather.

895.519(1)(am)8. 8. Insects, birds, and other wildlife.

895.519(1)(bm) (bm) “Private campground” means a facility that is issued a campground license under s. 97.67 and that is owned and operated by a private property owner, as defined in s. 895.52 (1) (e).

895.519(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a private campground, an owner or operator of a private campground, and any employees and officers of a private campground or private campground owner or operator are immune from civil liability for acts or omissions related to camping at a private campground if a person is injured or killed, or property is damaged, as a result of an inherent risk of camping.

895.519(3) (3) The immunity of sub. (2) does not apply if the person seeking immunity does any of the following:

895.519(3)(a) (a) Intentionally causes the injury, death, or property damage.

895.519(3)(b) (b) Acts with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the party or the property damaged. In this paragraph, “willful or wanton disregard” means conduct committed with an intentional or reckless disregard for the safety of others.

895.519(3)(c) (c) Fails to conspicuously post warning signs of a dangerous inconspicuous condition known to him or her on the property that he or she owns, leases, rents, or is otherwise in lawful control or possession of.

895.519(4) (4) This section does not limit the immunity created under s. 895.52.

895.519(5) (5) Nothing in this section affects the assumption of risk under s. 895.525 by a person participating in a recreational activity including camping.

895.519 History History: 2015 a. 293; 2017 a. 365 ss. 87, 110.

895.519 Annotation The Exculpatory Contract and Public Policy. Anzivino. 102 MLR 747 (2019).

895.52 895.52 Recreational activities; limitation of property owners’ liability.

895.52(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

895.52(1)(ag) (ag) “Agricultural tourism activity” means an educational or recreational activity that takes place on a farm, ranch, grove, or other place where agricultural, horticultural, or silvicultural crops are grown or farm animals or farmed fish are raised, and that allows visitors to tour, explore, observe, learn about, participate in, or be entertained by an aspect of agricultural production, harvesting, or husbandry that occurs on the farm, ranch, grove, or other place.

895.52(1)(ar) (ar) “Governmental body” means any of the following:

895.52(1)(ar)1. 1. The federal government.

895.52(1)(ar)2. 2. This state.

895.52(1)(ar)3. 3. A county or municipal governing body, agency, board, commission, committee, council, department, district or any other public body corporate and politic created by constitution, statute, ordinance, rule or order.

895.52(1)(ar)4. 4. A governmental or quasi-governmental corporation.

895.52(1)(ar)5. 5. A formally constituted subunit or an agency of subd. 1., 2., 3. or 4.

895.52(1)(b) (b) “Injury” means an injury to a person or to property.

895.52(1)(c) (c) “Nonprofit organization” means an organization or association not organized or conducted for pecuniary profit.

895.52(1)(d) (d) “Owner” means either of the following:

895.52(1)(d)1. 1. A person, including a governmental body or nonprofit organization, that owns, leases or occupies property.

895.52(1)(d)2. 2. A governmental body or nonprofit organization that has a recreational agreement with another owner.

895.52(1)(e) (e) “Private property owner” means any owner other than a governmental body or nonprofit organization.

895.52(1)(f) (f) “Property” means real property and buildings, structures and improvements thereon, and the waters of the state, as defined under s. 281.01 (18).

895.52(1)(g) (g) “Recreational activity” means any outdoor activity undertaken for the purpose of exercise, relaxation or pleasure, including practice or instruction in any such activity. “Recreational activity” includes hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, picnicking, exploring caves, nature study, bicycling, horseback riding, bird-watching, motorcycling, operating an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle, operating a vehicle, as defined in s. 340.01 (74), on a road designated under s. 23.115, recreational aviation, ballooning, hang gliding, hiking, tobogganing, sledding, sleigh riding, snowmobiling, skiing, skating, water sports, sight-seeing, rock-climbing, cutting or removing wood, climbing observation towers, animal training, harvesting the products of nature, participating in an agricultural tourism activity, sport shooting and any other outdoor sport, game or educational activity. “Recreational activity” does not include any organized team sport activity sponsored by the owner of the property on which the activity takes place.

895.52(1)(h) (h) “Recreational agreement” means a written authorization granted by an owner to a governmental body or nonprofit organization permitting public access to all or a specified part of the owner’s property for any recreational activity.

895.52(1)(hm) (hm) “Recreational aviation” means the use of an aircraft, other than to provide transportation to persons or property for compensation or hire, upon privately owned land. For purposes of this definition, “privately owned land” does not include a public-use airport, as defined in s. 114.002 (18m).

895.52(1)(i) (i) “Residential property” means a building or structure designed for and used as a private dwelling accommodation or private living quarters, and the land surrounding the building or structure within a 300-foot radius.

895.52(2) (2) No duty; immunity from liability.

895.52(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in subs. (3) to (6), no owner and no officer, employee or agent of an owner owes to any person who enters the owner’s property to engage in a recreational activity:

895.52(2)(a)1. 1. A duty to keep the property safe for recreational activities.