BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 962
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May, 11, 2005

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                   Judy Chu, Chair

                    AB 962 (Nunez) - As Amended:  April 21, 2005 

          Policy Committee:                               
          UtilitiesVote:10-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill imposes safety requirements on railroad corporations  
          with regard to signage, markers, flagging systems and the  
          transport of hazardous materials.  Specifically, this bill:

          1)Prohibits a railroad corporation from leaving a train  
            containing hazardous materials unattended outside of its  
            terminal property, or permitting such a train to cross a grade  
            crossing unattended.

          2)Codifies various railroad corporation operating regulations  
            governing the placement of signage, markers, and flagging  
            systems on railroad lines.

          3)Requires a railroad corporation to notify the Public Utilities  
            Commission (PUC) and the collective bargaining representative  
            of any employee affected by a new utilization of remote  
            control locomotives.  

          4)Requires a railroad corporation to immediately notify the PUC  
            of certain accidents, incidents and other events required by  
            the Code of Federal Regulations. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor absorbable costs to the PUC.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background . In 1991, following a number of rail accidents,  
            including a train derailment causing nineteen thousand gallons  








                                                                  AB 962
                                                                  Page  2

            of highly toxic pesticide to leak into the Sacramento River  
            near Dunsmuir, legislation was enacted directing the PUC to  
            increase its oversight of railroad safety.

           2)Purpose  . According to the author, this bill is intended to  
            enhance public safety and the safety of rail workers by  
            codifying the industry's operating rules and by requiring  
            enhanced safety measures when hazardous materials are present.  
             The author cites recent train derailments and reports of  
            hazardous material left unattended for extended periods of  
            time as evidence of the need for greater safety requirements.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081