The state Senate has given its approval to a bill that gives official state recognition to volunteer “search and rescue” groups like those that help save lives of lost hikers, hunters and others in the Adirondacks and other vast wilderness areas of upstate.

The bill, S.3552, which now goes to Governor Cuomo for his signature, caps a 30-year effort by state forest rangers, volunteer groups and local communities to establish standards for training and safety of volunteers, which supporters believe will help lead to more successful rescue operations.

“More than 26 search and rescue groups across the state include individuals who put their lives at risk every year, enduring rough terrain, bad weather and unseen hazards—where cell phones don’t work, roads are few, and injuries are common—to help hikers, hunters and others who become lost or disoriented in the woods and wilderness areas of our state,” said Sen. Patty Ritchie (48th District, R-Heuvelton), sponsor of the bill

“This bill will help ensure that rescuers can get proper training and recognition to continue to successfully complete their difficult tasks, and lead to even more lives saved in the future,” Ritchie said.

According to Ritchie’s announcement, more than 300 visitors to the Adirondack Park are lost or injured while wandering in its thick forests each year, requiring forest ranger and volunteer efforts to locate and rescue them. There are nine outstanding missing persons cases dating back to 1971.

The bill:

· officially recognizes volunteer wilderness and inland search and rescue groups, and allows -- but doesn’t require -- local governments to use the groups in rescue operations;

· directs the state Department of Environmental Conservation to design specific training that would lead to official credentialing of search and rescue volunteers. The training would be designed to reduce risk and injury to volunteers, as much as helping to ensure more successful search outcomes, not unlike training that’s required for firefighters;

· protects local communities who use search and rescue groups from certain lawsuits and damages that could arise from rescue operations.

The bill goes to the governor for final approval.