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A bill aimed at giving South Dakota teens immunity for calling 911 when a friend needs help after a night of drinking has failed.
The legislation was defeated 7-6 Wednesday morning in the House Judiciary Committee.
The so-called 'Good Samaritan' bill would have allowed underage drinkers to avoid a misdemeanor if they called for help for a friend who is suffering from the affects of alcohol poisoning or another emergency.
Supporters said the bill would have saved lives.
"To me it makes much more sense to save a life on the forefront and assign a crime afterwards than to put a student's life at risk for the sake of the law," USD Student Body President Alissa VanMeeteren testified in support of the bill.
Both opponents and supporters of the law referred to the KELOLAND News story on Twitter feeds at the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State that show passed out students as examples of why the law is needed, and what type of behavior they think the law would have encouraged.
Opponents, and several members of the committee, argued the law would have promoted binge drinking and that's why they defeated the measure.
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