The deadly excursion boat fire which killed 34 people off the Santa Barbara County coast this summer has prompted some proposed new federal boat safety laws. Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate would require small passenger vessels to have at least two means of escape from different parts of the boat.
It would set stricter fire alarm standards. And, it calls for safety standards for the handling and storage of things like phones and cameras with lithium ion batteries.
The legislation was prompted by the Labor Day fire on board the Santa Barbara based boat, the Conception off of Santa Cruz Island. Investigators are still trying to pinpoint the cause of the fire.
The legislation was introduced by California State Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara, and Democratic Congresswoman Julia Brownley of Westlake Village.
