CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - All boats and boat trailers entering Wyoming would have to be inspected under a proposal being considered by state lawmakers.

The bill from Sen. Leland Christensen is aimed at keeping aquatic nuisance species like zebra mussels out of Wyoming. The mussels, which have spread to Colorado, can harm water treatment systems and ecosystems and damage boat engines.

Senate File 71 got the unanimous backing of a Senate committee on Tuesday but it must still win approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee because of its $1.7 million cost.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that 18 contract employees would be hired to conduct the inspections. No money is set aside for that in the current proposed budget.

Christensen says paying for inspections will be cheaper than paying for damage done by mussels.

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