                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DOMESTICATED ANIMAL PREMISES; LIABILITY FOR DOMESTICATED ANIMAL PATHOGEN (§
3.2-6403)

A. For purposes of this chapter, unless the context requires a different
meaning:
			&#8220;Domesticated animal pathogen&#8221; or &#8220;pathogen&#8221; means a
microorganism, biological agent, or toxin that (i) causes disease, illness, or
death to a human and (ii) is primarily transmitted by human contact with a
domesticated animal or manure or other excretions or body fluids from a
domesticated animal.			&#8220;Domesticated animal premises&#8221; or
&#8220;premises&#8221; means a place at a petting zoo, fair, or agricultural
exhibition at which a domesticated animal is regularly kept for three or more
consecutive hours.

B. No owner or operator of a domesticated animal premises shall be liable for
damages arising from a claim by a person who visits such premises, including a
participant or spectator, alleging injury or death caused by a domesticated
animal pathogen transmitted at such premises, regardless of whether a
domesticated animal is present at the premises when such pathogen is
transmitted, if such owner or operator took reasonable precautions to prevent
the transmission of such pathogen.

C. Subsection B shall not apply to the extent that the person proves that no
warning sign was posted at a conspicuous place at the premises as required in
subsection D or that no hand-washing station was available as required in
subsection E. Subsection B shall not apply if the transmission of the
domesticated animal pathogen occurred due to the gross negligence, willful and
wanton conduct, or intentional act of the owner or operator of a domesticated
animal premises.

D. A warning sign shall be posted at a conspicuous place at any premises so that
it is clearly visible to a person visiting the premises for the first time. Such
sign shall have a white background and display a notice printed in black letters
a minimum of one inch high in the following form:
			&#8220;WARNING			DOMESTICATED ANIMAL PREMISES			Under Virginia Code &#xA7;
3.2-6403, the owner or operator of these premises is not liable for a
domesticated animal pathogen transmitted from these premises. Take necessary
sanitary precautions, including not touching your face or consuming any food or
drink until you have thoroughly washed and dried your hands after your visit. As
soon as possible after your visit, thoroughly wash your hands using an
appropriate soap and water, and thoroughly dry your hands after washing.&#8221;

E. Each domesticated animal premises shall provide a working hand-washing
station with soap, water, and a means of drying the hands located at a
conspicuous place at such premises.

HISTORY: 2020, c. 453.