SRC-SEW S.B. 855 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 855
2001S0576/1  02/21/01By: Madla
State Affairs
3/1/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, statutes relating to the operation and regulation of a train in
this state require a full crew.  A full crew consists of a specific number
of persons per train, including a passenger train, a freight train, a
gravel train, a work train, a construction train and a light engine.  As
proposed, S.B. 880 changes certain crew requirements for trains and
requires a qualified engineer to operate a control locomotive at any time
the locomotive is in motion. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 6380, Revised Statutes, as follows:

Art. 6380.  (a) Prohibits a railroad company or receiver of any railroad
company doing business in this state from running certain types of trains
under certain conditions over its road (or part of its road) outside of the
yard limits,.  

(b) Prohibits the provisions of this article from applying to a designated
service or repair track when that repair track is protected by switch
locks, blue flags, and derails and the movement will not consist of
occupying a main track.  Deletes language concerning lines of railroad less
than 20 miles in length, switching crews, and disability of train crews.   

(c) Requires the control locomotive of a train described under Subsection
(a)(2) to be operated by an engineer at any time the locomotive is in
motion.  Authorizes a railroad conductor on such a train to dismount the
train to perform necessary job duties, including rail switching activities. 

(d) Requires that nothing in this article prevent railroads from operating
with crews consisting of more than two persons. 

(e) Provides that this article applies to all trains operated in this state
to the extent that it does not violate federal law. 

  (f) Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.