A Senate bill requiring rescue equipment along Lake Michigan’s shoreline to reduce drownings could be sunk.
Its sponsor, Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, said Tuesday that it won’t receive a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee, which means it can’t move forward.
“I am disappointed that the need for life saving equipment stalled in the legislative process after passing unanimously out of the Senate,” said Pol.
Senate Bill 424 won swift approval in the Senate in February without a dissenting vote.
Pol said House Natural Resources Chairman Shane Lindauer, R-Jasper, told him he was open to continuing the conversation about the bill, presumably next year since committees are at the deadline now to move bills.
The measure, similar to one that passed in Illinois last year, requires public and private-owned piers and beach drop-offs to be outfitted with at least one ring life buoy. The bill defined a “drop-off” as a shoreline area intended for direct public access to the water.
At least a 100-foot line should be attached to each ring. Signage on how to use the equipment is also required under the bill.
The bill was drawn up with assistance from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a non-profit advocacy group that tracks drownings and offers water safety training. The group worked with Illinois lawmakers who passed the bill last year and is also working with legislators in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Dave Benjamin, co-founder and executive director of Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, expressed disappointment in the bill’s apparent failure.
“If this bill doesn’t move forward, lives will be lost,” said Benjamin, who said he held a Zoom meeting with Landauer earlier to express support for the bill.
“Essentially, his excuse was he didn’t think this was a bill that would benefit the entire state. He was very shortsighted,” Benjamin said.
Some sites, including Indiana State Park and Michigan City beaches, already have rescue equipment in place. In Gary, a volunteer group has placed equipment along Lake Street and Marquette Park beaches.
The Great Lakes Project reported of more than 100 Great Lakes drownings last year, nearly half were on Lake Michigan. Northwest Indiana had seven drownings last year.
Benjamin said the rescue equipment might have saved a man who tried to rescue a person in trouble in an undertow last year at Porter Beach. The man ended up drowning, but Benjamin said if a life ring or rope was available, he might have survived.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
