Disney Is ‘Open’ to Safety Legislation
A Disneyland official said Thursday that the theme park would consider supporting a state law that regulates and assures safety at amusement parks throughout California.
“We are open to legislation that would address the issue of regulation and assure safety at theme parks,” Disneyland spokesman Ray Gomez said. “If that’s what it takes to assure safety in theme parks, so be it.”
Gomez also cautioned: “We want the opportunity to write legislation so it is reasonable.”
His statement follows the Christmas Eve accident that killed a visitor and injured two other people at the park.
Anaheim police have since come under criticism for waiting 4 1/2 hours before investigating the scene of the accident, allowing park employees to clean up the site, remove evidence and bring witnesses to a briefing room to be interviewed by police.
Knott’s Berry Farm previously has said it would support a state law regulating safety at amusement parks.
If the industry continues to respond positively, “it will certainly move us in the direction of moving a bill,” said Gary Gartner, a spokesman for Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch).
Torlakson, whose bill last year to regulate the industry died quickly in committee, said he is seeking support from key legislators to reintroduce the bill.
The bill would have required theme parks to report accidents to the state Fairs and Expositions Division of the Department of Food and Agriculture. It also would have required Cal/OSHA to inspect the parks after such incidents. Gartner asserted that Disney “clearly worked the bill behind the scenes” to kill the legislation.
Gomez says he knows nothing about Disney’s involvement in last year’s bill, but he offered to work with Torlakson “or anyone else who wants to craft something.”
Gomez said Disney’s position on legislation is not new.
But over the last three decades, Disney has played a part in defeating several bills aimed at regulating the industry, leaving California one of only 10 states that do not regulate permanent rides at amusement parks.
In 1979, for example, Disneyland formally opposed a bill that would have made permanent amusement rides subject to safety regulations, and in 1968, the park worked to kill similar language in a bill designed to regulate all amusement rides, according to a 1997 report by the California State Library’s research bureau.
Disneyland, Knott’s and other permanent amusement parks have stalled such regulation, in part, by convincing legislators that the parks have their own stringent standards that are superior to any the state might impose.
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