Senate passes diver-safety measure for aquatic-plant work after amendments

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Senate on April 10 passed House File 13 55, a bill that imposes equipment, training and permitting requirements on companies and individuals who use scuba gear to remove aquatic plants, lawmakers said. The bill passed on a roll call of 54 ayes and 10 nays and will return to the House for concurrence before going to the governor.

The bill was introduced on the Senate floor as a worker-safety measure prompted by the deaths of two young men, whom the author and family members described at length. "It's not every day that we have the opportunity to pass a bill that will save the lives of Minnesotans," the bill's floor author said, urging colleagues to support the measure.

Supporters said the bill closes gaps that contributed to the drownings. The enacted language requires people using scuba gear for aquatic plant management to hold at…