Section 12-4-147. Liability of owners of caves for injuries

   (a) Neither the owner of a cave nor his authorized agents, officers, employees, or designated representatives acting within the scope of their authority shall be liable for injuries sustained by any person using such cave for recreational or scientific purposes if the prior consent of the owner has been obtained and if no charge has been made for the use of such features and notwithstanding that an inquiry as to the experience or expertise of the individual seeking consent may have been made.

(b) Neither the owner of a commercial cave nor his authorized agents, officers, employees, or designated representatives acting within the scope of their authority shall be liable for an injury sustained by a spectator who has paid to view the cave, unless such injury is sustained as a result of such owner's negligence in connection with the providing and maintaining of trails, stairs, electrical wires, or other modifications, and such negligence shall be the proximate cause of the injury.

(c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to constitute a waiver of the sovereign immunity of the state or any of its boards, departments, bureaus, or agencies.

Ga. L. 1977, p. 833, § 8.