BILL ANALYSIS
AB 962
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 962 (Nunez)
As Amended April 21, 2005
Majority vote
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 10-1 APPROPRIATIONS 18-0
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|Ayes:|Levine, Bogh, Baca, |Ayes:|Chu, Sharon Runner, Bass, |
| |Blakeslee, Jones, De La | |Berg, Calderon, Emmerson, |
| |Torre, Jerome Horton, | |Mullin, Haynes, Karnette, |
| |Montanez, Ridley-Thomas, | |Klehs, Leno, Nakanishi, |
| |Wyland | |Nation, Oropeza, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Saldana, |
| | | |Walters, Yee |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Keene | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Imposes certain safety requirements on a railroad
corporation regarding 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 California
Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the collective
bargaining representative of any affected employee of any new
utilization of remote control locomotives (RCLs).
4)Requires a railroad corporation to immediately notify PUC of
certain accidents, incidents and other events required by the
Code of Federal Regulations.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor absorbable costs to PUC.
AB 962
Page 2
COMMENTS : According to the author, the purpose of this bill is
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.
Treatment of hazardous materials: Existing law requires each
railroad corporation which
transports hazardous materials to submit emergency handling
guidelines for the surface transportation of hazardous materials
to the Office of Emergency Services (OES), provide a system map
to OES, and to immediately report an incident where there is a
release or threatened release of hazardous material. This bill
prohibits a train with hazardous material from being left
unattended outside of its terminal property. Recent news
reports indicate that rail cars with potentially hazardous
material are being stored on rail lines for up to 30 days,
although the extent of this problem has not been determined by
the Federal Railroad Administration or PUC.
RCLs: This bill requires a railroad corporation to notify both
PUC and the collective bargaining representative of any affected
employee of new utilization of RCLs in the state. Because RCLs
involve the use of a radio transmitter and receiver system,
rather than a person physically located in the locomotive cab,
to control a train's movement, there have been concerns raised
about the safety of their operation in the state.
Analysis Prepared by : Adam Hunt / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083
FN: 0010324