S09406 Summary:

BILL NOS09406
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORHINCHEY
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd §14, Transp L; add §77-d, Rail L
 
Requires the department of transportation to promulgate rules and regulations for the installation of heat safety gauges or hot bearing detectors on freight rail tracks in the state; requires the installation of positive train control systems on all freight trains operated within the state.
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S09406 Actions:

BILL NOS09406
 
05/15/2024REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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S09406 Committee Votes:

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S09406 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
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S09406 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          9406
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                      May 15, 2024
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
        AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in  relation  to  requiring  the
          department  of  transportation to promulgate rules and regulations for
          the installation of heat safety gauges on freight rail tracks; and  to
          amend  the  railroad law, in relation to requiring the installation of
          positive train control systems on all freight rail trains operating in
          the state
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Section 14 of the transportation law is amended by adding a
     2  new subdivision 37 to read as follows:
     3    37.  (a)  To  promulgate rules and regulations requiring every freight
     4  railroad corporation incorporated pursuant to the provisions of  section
     5  five  of  the  railroad law to install heat safety gauges or hot bearing
     6  detectors on all freight rail tracks within the state operated  by  such
     7  corporation  in  accordance  with national best practices, but in incre-
     8  ments of no greater than fifteen  miles.  Provided,  additionally,  that
     9  such  gauges or detectors shall be installed in locations before a route
    10  serves major urbanized areas. Such  rules  and  regulations  shall  also
    11  prescribe  a  process for immediately notifying the commissioner and the
    12  federal railroad administration if such a gauge  or  detector  indicates
    13  that  temperature  differences  between  bearings  on  the same axle are
    14  greater than or equal to one hundred fifteen degrees fahrenheit.
    15    (b) Within one year of the effective date  of  this  subdivision,  the
    16  department  shall  conduct  a  study  on the benefits of installing heat
    17  safety gauges or hot bearing detectors at closer intervals in more popu-
    18  lated areas, and shall update  the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated
    19  pursuant to this subdivision based upon the results of such study.
    20    §  2. The railroad law is amended by adding a new section 77-d to read
    21  as follows:
    22    § 77-d. Positive train control systems. (a) No freight train shall  be
    23  operated  within the state without a properly functioning positive train
    24  control system. The commissioner shall promulgate all  rules  and  regu-
    25  lations necessary for the implementation of this section.
    26    (b)  Whenever  the  commissioner  of  transportation shall cause to be
    27  personally served upon any railroad corporation controlling  any  tunnel
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10521-02-3

        S. 9406                             2
 
     1  or part of a tunnel or track in this state for the purpose of transport-
     2  ing  or  delivering  freight  for  compensation,  by  delivering  a copy
     3  personally to the president, general manager or  any  director  of  such
     4  corporation of a notice or order of said commissioner of transportation,
     5  stating   and specifying the deficiencies or failures causing such rail-
     6  road corporation to be operating a  freight  train  without  a  properly
     7  functioning positive train control system, said corporation shall, with-
     8  in ten days from and after the service of such notice or order as afore-
     9  said,  cause said infrastructure or right of way so used by it as afore-
    10  said to function properly, in the manner and by the means and use of the
    11  mechanical apparatus and appliances specified and pointed  out  in  said
    12  notice or order.
    13    (c) After  the  expiration  of ten days from the service of such order
    14  or notice specified in this section, as therein directed, if such corpo-
    15  ration  shall  not  have  fully  complied with such notice or order, the
    16  commissioner  of  transportation  may  commence  an  action  or  special
    17  proceeding  hereunder,  or  under the transportation law, in the supreme
    18  court for a judgment to  compel  such  corporation  or  corporations  so
    19  neglecting  or  refusing to obey and comply with said order or notice to
    20  comply with and obey said notice or order, and  said  court  shall  have
    21  full  power  and  authority to hear and determine such matter, and after
    22  giving the corporation or corporations proceeded against an  opportunity
    23  to  be  heard  in  its or their   defense, to compel such corporation or
    24  corporations so proceeded against to obey  such  order  or  notice,  and
    25  forthwith  comply  with  and  carry  out the provisions and requirements
    26  therein contained.
    27    (d) Every corporation violating any of the provisions of this  section
    28  shall  be  guilty of a misdemeanor and may be indicted therefor, and may
    29  be compelled to appear and   plead to  an  indictment  therefor  in  the
    30  person  of  its president, secretary, treasurer or any director thereof,
    31  and a bench warrant may issue out of any competent court to compel  such
    32  attendance and pleading, and, upon conviction thereof, such corporations
    33  shall  be  punished by a fine of one thousand dollars, and an additional
    34  fine of five hundred dollars  a day for each and every day or part of  a
    35  day  after thirty days from the due service of said notice or order that
    36  said corporation shall refuse or neglect  to  obey  and  carry  out  the
    37  requirements  and  provisions of the same, and duly sentenced to pay the
    38  same.
    39    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided,  however,  that
    40  section  two  of this act shall take effect one year after it shall have
    41  become a law. Provided, further, that this act shall be deemed  repealed
    42  if  any  federal agency determines in writing that this act would render
    43  New York state ineligible for the receipt of federal funds or any  court
    44  of  competent jurisdiction finally determines that this act would render
    45  New York state out of compliance with federal  law  or  regulation;  and
    46  provided that the commissioner of transportation shall notify the legis-
    47  lative  bill  drafting  commission upon such determination in order that
    48  the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective  data  base
    49  of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance
    50  of  effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and
    51  section 70-b of the public  officers  law.  Effective  immediately,  the
    52  addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
    53  for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
    54  to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
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