Lake Mead ‘Samaritan’ bill revived

WASHINGTON — Nevada lawmakers plan to reintroduce a bill on Wednesday that seeks to cut red tape on federal lands so rescue or recovery teams can search without delays for victims of accidents or foul play.

Sen. Dean Heller and Rep. Joe Heck say they will revive their “Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act” that died in Congress last December.

The bill was prompted by the family of Las Vegas cab driver Keith Goldberg who was killed and his body dumped at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in January 2012. Goldberg’s family and professional volunteers from Red Rock Search and Rescue were denied access to the grounds until they secured a $1 million liability insurance policy.

After taking nine months to raise funds, the search team was able to gain a special use permit. Goldberg’s partial remains were discovered within hours.

“Red tape must not continue to get in the way of providing closure for families like the Goldbergs,” Heck said in speech Tuesday announcing the bill that aides said will be unchanged from the one Congress considered last year.

The bill would waive the insurance requirements for qualified search organizations and require federal land managers to approve or deny search permits within 48 hours.

The legislation passed the House unanimously last year but was blocked from being taken up in the Senate in the closing days of the session.