Recognizing the "national scope of the problems created by the legitimate fears of volunteers about frivolous, arbitrary, or capricious lawsuits," this law limits the liability of volunteers of nonprofit organizations and government agencies. However, a state may elect not to have the law apply in its own courts. A bill proposing limitations on liability for volunteers was first proposed in 1987 by Rep. John Porter (Rep.-Ill.) and reintroduced in each session of Congress since then, until it was enacted this year.
The Congressional Home Page, Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov), provides extensive on-line materials and search capabilities. These include the full text of bills and their status, searchable by key word or bill number; the Congressional Record, searchable by key word; digests and legislative history of bills and amendments, searchable by keyword, sponsor name, or committee; and a summary of "hot" legislation.