Supporters Unable To Rescue SAR Bill

The Wyoming Senate yesterday soundly defeated a bill sponsored by Representative Keith Gingery which would have granted search and rescue volunteers the same kind of protection from personal lawsuits enjoyed by volunteer firefighters.  Gingery says attorneys in the Senate argued that with the increased complexity of rescues, those members of rescue groups should bear legal responsibility – and during arguments began to question whether the measures protecting volunteer firefighters should also be reexamined.  The measure went down with a vote of 24 to 5.  Gingery says he is concerned that the outcome may adversely impact the ability of search and rescue groups to recruit future members.