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HR 1503 105th Congress House Law Charities Damages Evidence (Law) Federal preemption Government Operations and Politics Juries Liability (Law) Negligence Nonprofit organizations Punitive damages Social Welfare State courts State laws Torts Trial practice Volunteer workers Volunteer workers in government Volunteer workers in social service

Liability Reform for Volunteer Services Act

Introduced: April 30, 1997 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 12, 1997
For Further Action See S.543.
Apr 30, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 30, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Liability Reform for Volunteer Services Act - Applies provisions of this Act to claims for damages in any Federal or State court civil action relating to: (1) volunteer services performed by the defendant for either a governmental entity or a volunteer service organization; or (2) activities or services performed by a volunteer service organization.

Allows punitive damages to be awarded against such a defendant if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's conduct exhibited a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others and was the proximate cause of the harm that is the subject of the action. Limits the amount of punitive damages to the lesser of: (1) twice the sum of the amounts awarded for economic and noneconomic loss; or (2) $250,000.

States that this Act does not create a cause of action or preempt or supersede any Federal or State law that further limits the amount of awards for punitive or compensatory damages in such a cause of action.

Prohibits the disclosure to a jury of the punitive damages limitations of this Act.

Requires, at the request of any party, the question of punitive damages to be considered in a separate proceeding after the determination of compensatory damages. Prohibits the admission of evidence concerning punitive damages during a separate action considering only compensatory damages.

Requires, in an action brought against more than one defendant, each defendant to be liable only for the amount of compensatory damages allocated to that defendant by the trier of fact in direct proportion to the percentage of responsibility for the harm for which the defendant is found liable. Requires a separate judgment against each defendant in such cases.

What's happening now May 12, 1997

For Further Action See S.543.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1503: Liability Reform for Volunteer Services Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1503/
MLA
"H.R. 1503: Liability Reform for Volunteer Services Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1503/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1503, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1503/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1503: Liability Reform for Volunteer Services Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1503/)
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