Indiana House backs stage rigging rules extension

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana House has backed a two-year extension of regulations on temporary outdoor stage rigging developed in response to the deadly State Fair stage collapse.

The House voted 92-1 Wednesday to advance the bill to the Senate for consideration. The proposal would keep temporary rules approved last summer by the state building safety commission in place until 2016.

Bill sponsor Rep. Robert Cherry of Greenfield says that will give the commission time to hold hearings and take other steps needed to adopt permanent rules.

The temporary rules create a buffer zone extending 8 feet beyond the height of the rigging to protect fans in case of a collapse.

The rules were adopted after the August 2011 stage rigging collapse during high winds that killed seven people at the state fairgrounds.