Ind. panel considers requiring stage inspections

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana House committee is set to consider a proposal to require that all large, temporary outdoor stages pass inspections before they are used for performances.

The proposal follows the deadly collapse of outdoor stage rigging during high winds at last summer’s Indiana State Fair. The House public safety committee has a public hearing set for Tuesday on the bill. The state Senate approved it last month.

Some lawmakers say they were surprised to learn that no inspections were required for the large stage that collapsed Aug. 13 at the state-owned fairgrounds.

Bill sponsor Sen. Tim Lanane (LAN’-in) of Anderson says lawmakers are working to ensure that statewide standards don’t interfere with inspection regulations that exist in some cities, including Indianapolis.