House panel hears from victims’ families on dock safety bill

Lawmakers heard committee testimony on Wednesday from victims’ families about a bill requiring electrical regulations for all docks at the Lake of the Ozarks. ABC 17 News discovered 90% of all wiring is not inspected at the Lake, despite several deaths because of the safety concerns, including two children from mid-Missouri.

House Bill 2607 would establish the Alexandra and Brayden Anderson Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Act. The bill, which would set requirements for boat docks and marinas equipped with electrical power, is named for the two Ashland children who died by electrocution in 2012. At the time, Alexandra and Brayden were swimming near their family’s dock at the Lake of the Ozarks. Faulty wiring that did not switch off was found to be the cause of the water’s electrical current that killed Alexandra and Brayden.

In addition to dock requirements, HB 2607 calls for each boat in the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Division to be equipped with an automated external defibrillator, and to be staffed by at least one person trained in the use of the AED.