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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A legislative panel has approved a bill to allow government agencies to pay more than a $600,000 per-event liability limit that protects public agencies from having to pay unlimited damages.

The bill endorsed Wednesday by a Senate Judiciary subcommittee also ties the $600,000 limit to inflation.

The discussion about changing lawsuit limits began last year when a children's train ride crashed at a Spartanburg park, killing one child and injuring dozens of other people. Families affected by the derailment said they faced mounting medical bills and, as a group, would only to be able to recover a total of $600,000 from public agencies.

One family sued, accusing county officials of not adequately supervising the train operator or inspecting the park's tracks.

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