SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon House has approved a bill requiring climbers to carry beam-emitting electronic locator devices when they head for the summit of Oregon's tallest peak.

They are hoping to cut down on climbing disasters on Mount Hood.

The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

AP Photo/Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit, Dr. Lindsay Clunes

It was introduced mainly in response to last December's climbing disaster in which three out-of-state men perished after they got caught in a blizzard near the summit of Mount Hood.

Mountaineering groups oppose the bill.

They say requiring a locator unit would give climbers a false sense of security, leading climbers to take greater risks and believe they can be rescued no matter what.

Victim's father urges approval of Hood beacon bill

The bill was endorsed by a 33-22 vote. Backers argued that requiring all climbers to have locators would cut down on the cost of rescue operations and reduce the risk to volunteer searchers by allowing them to pinpoint the location of missing climbers.