1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; prohibiting admission 
  1.3             of motorcycle helmet use by operators and passengers 
  1.4             age 18 or older in litigation involving damages 
  1.5             arising from use or operation of a motor vehicle; 
  1.6             amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.974, by 
  1.7             adding a subdivision; repealing Minnesota Statutes 
  1.8             1996, section 169.974, subdivision 6. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.974, is 
  1.11  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.12     Subd. 4a.  [MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE; ADMISSIBILITY INTO 
  1.13  EVIDENCE.] (a) Proof of the use or failure to use a motorcycle 
  1.14  helmet by a motorcycle operator or passenger age 18 or older is 
  1.15  not admissible in evidence in any litigation involving personal 
  1.16  injuries or property damage resulting from the use or operation 
  1.17  of any motor vehicle. 
  1.18     (b) Paragraph (a) does not affect the right of a person to 
  1.19  bring an action for damages arising out of an incident that 
  1.20  involves a defectively designed or manufactured motorcycle 
  1.21  helmet.  Paragraph (a) does not prohibit the introduction of 
  1.22  evidence pertaining to the use of a motorcycle helmet in such an 
  1.23  action. 
  1.24     Sec. 2.  [REPEALER.] 
  1.25     Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.974, subdivision 6, is 
  1.26  repealed. 
  1.27     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.1      Section 1 is effective August 1, 1997, and applies to all 
  2.2   causes of action arising on or after that date.