(March 1, 2001) The House Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Committee approved a bill (HF427) Feb. 28 that would grant a further bleacher safety exemption to the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. The measure now goes to the House floor.

Rep. Andy Westerberg (R-Blaine) said not providing an exemption to the commission, a state agency, was an oversight.

The commission oversees the National Sports Center in Blaine. Paul Erickson, the executive director of the commission, said the center has more than 2.7 million visitors every year. He said he knew of no instances when a child fell through the 8,000-seat portable bleachers at the facility.

Rep. Len Biernat (DFL-Mpls) offered an amendment that was approved, exempting bleachers installed at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome from the 4-inch requirement. The dome will host the men's college basketball Final Four next month.

In 1999 the Legislature approved a law requiring that bleachers taller than 30 inches have gaps between seats, floorboards, and guardrails that do not exceed 4 inches. The previous standard for the size of the gaps was 9 inches.

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