The two girls involved in a recent Panhandle parasailing crash are now back home in Indiana. But, their story may foster more discussion in Florida. The incident is spurring a couple of Florida lawmakers to renew their push to regulate the parasailing industry.
Legislation aimed at regulating parasailing in Florida is set to be filed for next year’s 2014 Legislative Session. It’ll be the fourth consecutive year such a bill is written. But, Deerfield Beach Democratic Representative Gwendolyn Clarke-Reed says she believes this time her measure has a better chance.
“Based on what happened with the two young ladies in Panama City just prompted me to say more tat I need to refile this bill. I’m just hoping the representatives that represent areas that have parasailing that they come together and support the bill put forth by Senator Sachs and myself. This is not an R or D legislation," said Reed.
Clarke-Reed and Democratic Senator Maria Sachs had filed the bill last year due to similar parasailing tragedies in their South Florida districts. Years before, then-Republican Senator Dennis Jones filed similar legislation. Clarke-Reed’s new bill regulates parasailing safety, particularly equipment inspections. The two girls involved in the parasailing incident were seriously injured when their rope snapped, causing them to hit a condominium, a power line and a parked car.
Stay Tuned for more on this story on Friday's Capital Report.
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