OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington senators, responding to a public outcry over the potential danger of huge construction cranes, on Saturday sent Gov. Chris Gregoire a bill to require strict regulation of cranes and crane operators.

Sponsors said it would be America's toughest crane safety law, easily meeting new federal standards that are being developed.

Although lawmakers have been studying the issue for several years, it gained new momentum after a heavily publicized accident in Bellevue last fall when a 210-foot tower crane collapsed, killing a Microsoft lawyer in his nearby condo and damaging three buildings.

Two weeks after that accident, another tower crane in Bellevue was dismantled because of cracks that investigators blamed on water seeping into the steel legs and freezing.

The measure would require the state Department of Labor & Industries to set up a certification program for cranes used in construction, including inspection, regular testing and other requirements. It also would set up stringent requirements for crane operators.

The law wouldn't apply to cranes used in manufacturing facilities or powerhouses.

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, called it "a very well-worked, reasonable bill" that includes the advice of safety experts, construction companies and crane owners and operators. She called it one of the most important safety bills the Legislature has developed.

"We will be the leading state in this country to ensure safety" in a construction-site service that is indispensable in this booming region, she said.

Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, said Washington residents need to feel safe on the sidewalks and in their own homes, without worrying that heavy equipment like these towering cranes will topple. Some may think the Bellevue accident was a freak occurrence, but the state can't risk more loss of life, she added.

Some Republicans, including Jerome Delvin of the Tri-Cities and Jim Honeyford of Sunnyside, said the bill is too far-reaching and that the state should await the federal rules before adopting its own.

Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient, who said his son-in-law operates a $4 million crane, said the industry already has strong training and inspection programs.

The Senate vote was 39-8. The bill already had passed the House, where the sponsor, Rep. Deb Eddy, D-Kirkland, said, "It doesn't seem too unreasonable to expect the biggest, most expensive piece of equipment on a construction site, and the one that can create the most damage, would have some regulation."

The governor is expected to sign the measure, which would take effect in 2010 after the state agency enacts regulations.

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The bill is House Bill 2171.