Correa Plans Bill for Self-Inspection of Parks

Freshman Assemblyman Lou Correa, in sharp contrast to a fellow Democrat, said Wednesday that he will propose a state law this week to allow amusement parks to vouch for themselves that their rides are safe.

The bill would be the second offered to regulate the amusement park industry. On Tuesday, Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) said he would submit a bill this week, one that would require independent inspections of all parks annually.

Correa, whose district includes Disneyland, said his bill would allow parks to file sworn statements every year stating that they have inspected and maintained their own rides in accordance with yet-to-be-set state standards.

“The question is, ‘What more can the state do?’ ” Correa said. “I’m not here to legislate for the sake of legislation.”

Torlakson said he opposes a system that allows affidavits swearing to proper self-inspections.

“We want an independent set of eyes accountable to the state of California to verify the safety of the equipment at a park--someone who the people of California can rely on to be totally independent, who can’t be snowed by paperwork,” Torlakson said Wednesday.

Though their measures are at odds, the two lawmakers say they hope to work together as the legislation takes shape over the coming months.

The latest push for regulation comes in the wake of a Christmas Eve accident at Disneyland that killed a Washington state man and severely injured his wife and a park employee. Questions have since arisen over the park’s quick clean-up and removal of evidence and the failure of Anaheim police to go to the scene for hours.

Disney has since agreed to have a paid Anaheim police officer in the park at all times. Park executives also have said they would consider supporting a state law that regulates and assures safety at amusement parks statewide.

Initially, Correa was a strong critic of the handling of the Disneyland accident, but he has since changed his mind, saying he did not have all the facts at first.

Correa said he is confident the steps taken by Anaheim police and Disneyland will prevent a recurrence.

The Santa Ana Democrat said the affidavits would establish the parks’ liability should accidents occur on rides that had not been properly inspected or maintained. The threat of liability, he said, would be ample incentive for the parks to adhere strictly to the guidelines.

He and an aide also said “district concerns” are a factor.

“The district’s concerns are to see that Disneyland and other amusement parks are safe, but they also recognize the fact Disneyland is a major economic engine in our district,” said Jay Barkman, Correa’s legislative aide.

Torlakson’s bill sets forth four areas of regulation: annual state inspection, reporting of accidents, mandatory insurance and employee training.

It is similar to a bill he introduced in the last session, which died in committee last year after what he said was fierce lobbying by the amusement park industry. That bill failed even though he amended it to give large parks a way out of state inspections.

Correa has been working with Disney lobbyists on his bill, but Disney has not promised to support it, Barkman said.

The company recently hired a new lobbyist, Darius Anderson, a close ally of Gov. Gray Davis. Anderson headed a committee that put on Davis’ inauguration events. Another Disney lobbyist, Terri Thomas, also has been working with legislators recently, said aides to both Correa and Torlakson.

Correa has not received any campaign funds from either Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, according to him and state campaign contribution reports.

The Correa bill does not include a provision that would require parks to report accidents to the state.

“We have to work out language to make sure they don’t have to report every bump and bruise,” Barkman said.