Auburn, Ala. (EETV)- A new bill was recently approved in the Alabama state senate which was introduced due to the death of 3-year-old Sadie Grace Andrews. This new law would require all restaurants to have a locked and secured grease trap or they could face a monetary fine of up to $500.
Sadie died last October when she fell into a grease trap while playing outside Bruster's Ice Cream.
After her death, local officials launched an investigation into the current grease trap laws. Her death was deemed as accidental and was put to a grand jury for disposition. The outcome of this case has not been made public, but the coroner stated that the grease trap "was not secure."
Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, met with Sadie's parents after the incident to see what could be done to prevent this. Whatley wanted to do something to protect the well being of the public without causing unnecessary financial stress on businesses.
The proposed bill would require all restaurants with a grease trap to have it either locked or secured by a mechanism and able to withstand accidental intrusion or opening. Lawmakers added an amendment after the bill was approved by committee that the law would be called the "Sadie Grace Andrews Act."
This bill, sponsored by Whatley, is co-sponsored by 18 other senators from both sides of the aisle and will be moving to the House carried by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn. Lovvorn said he filed the House version of the bill last Tuesday and hopes to get it to committee this week.
