Drowning Prompts Mo. Bill Requiring Water Park Insurance

For-profit swimming pools would need liability insurance under a bill headed to Missouri’s governor.

It was sparked by the drowning of 6-year-old Ethan Cory, of Joplin, while on a field trip to a privately owned water park. The Swimmin’ Hole’s owner didn’t have insurance.

State rules already require city pools, hotel pools and water parks in a theme park to have insurance. But pools that are privately owned and operating outside of the city currently aren’t covered.

The legislation requires private, for-profit water parks to have at least $1 million worth of liability insurance in case a customer dies or is injured.

The bill passed the Senate 27-6. It already cleared the House.