Bills Submitted By Dr. Thomas Move Forward To Committee For Review

Two bills with water-related safety in mind filed by lake area Representative Doctor Lisa Thomas advance in the General Assembly.

One bill would create the “Missouri Patrol on Wave Runners Task Force”…or MO-POWR…and the other would establish “Marie’s Law.”

The MO-POWR bill establishes a law enforcement and first responder personal watercraft patrol which would employ local L-E-O and first responders to actively patrol and enforce state laws and regulations.

The patrol would work in addition to the highway patrol’s water division which would still serve as the primary agency.

The other bill seeks to establish “Marie’s Law,” by requiring boating safety signage at key locations around boat ramps at Lake of the Ozarks State Park…the signage serving as a reminder to boat safely following a drunken boating accident in July-2020 that killed Marie Steinkuehler of High Ridge.

Both bills have now been referred for further consideration to the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee.