WASHINGTON -- Following up on House action, Sen. Evan Bayh yesterday introduced legislation requiring weather radios in new manufactured homes that do not have permanent foundations.

The Indiana Democrat is naming his legislation "C.J.'s Law," after 2-year-old C.J. Martin, who was killed with two other family members in a Evansville on Nov, 6, 2005.

"This is an inexpensive step -- radios can cost as little as $15 to $20 -- convenient, and can provide critical warning to enable those who are in homes that are at risk to locate better shelter in the event of severe weather," Bayh told reporters.

He said he was targeting homes without permanent foundations because they are deemed by experts to be the most vulnerable in severe storms and tornadoes.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, residents of mobile homes are 10 times more at risk of being killed in tornadoes than those living in houses.

Kathryn Martin, C.J.'s mother, has been campaigning for the radios.

She said last month's tornadoes and severe weather that struck several states, including Kentucky, killed people in manufactured homes. The seven Kentuckians who died all lived in mobile homes.

The radios, Martin said, "would make it so that it doesn't happen as often as it does."

"This isn't going to stop the tornadoes, and it's not going to stop weather, but we just need to be able to give people the warnings," she said.

Bayh's bill would apply only to new manufactured homes, not to existing ones.

His measure would require installers of the mobile homes to provide the radios. Those that failed to do so could be subjected to fines up to $1,100 and could be prosecuted for criminal violations, the senator said.

Asked why weather radios weren't being required for all homes, Bayh said he was trying to take a reasonable step to address mobile homes because they were "most at risk."

Indiana now has a law requiring weather radios in new manufactured homes, passed after the 2005 Evansville twister. The Kentucky legislature is considering a similar law.

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