A year and a half after the Indiana State Fair stage collapse, state lawmakers are ready to enact permanent rules aimed at preventing future tragedies at outdoor events.
Last session, the General Assembly gave emergency rule-making power to the state Fire Marshal and Department of Homeland Security to develop temporary regulations for outdoor event and stage equipment.
This session, the legislature is prepared to make those rules permanent.
A panel met Tuesday to discuss whether the state’s formula for compensating State Fair stage collapse victims was fair, and the results could serve as a guide for responding to future tragedies.
The Monroe County Fair shut down its swine barn Tuesday after concerns about a potential flu outbreak among the animals and some people. State Board of Animal Health spokesperson Denise Derrer says it’s not just Monroe County that’s prompted action at the State Fair.