House Bill hb1733

    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1733

        By the Fiscal Responsibility Council and Representative
    Johnson





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Department of

  3         Transportation; amending s. 341.302, F.S.;

  4         deleting provisions relating to the

  5         department's responsibility for the handling of

  6         hazardous materials under the statewide rail

  7         program; providing an effective date.

  8

  9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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11         Section 1.  Subsections (7) and (8) of section 341.302,

12  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

13         341.302  Rail program, duties and responsibilities of

14  the department.--The department, in conjunction with other

15  governmental units and the private sector, shall develop and

16  implement a rail program of statewide application designed to

17  ensure the proper maintenance, safety, revitalization, and

18  expansion of the rail system to assure its continued and

19  increased availability to respond to statewide mobility needs.

20  Within the resources provided pursuant to chapter 216, and as

21  authorized under Title 49 C.F.R. part 212, the department

22  shall:

23         (7)  Develop and administer state standards concerning

24  the safety and performance of rail systems, hazardous material

25  handling, and operations. Such standards shall be developed

26  jointly with representatives of affected rail systems, with

27  full consideration given to nationwide industry norms, and

28  shall define the minimum acceptable standards for safety and

29  performance.

30         (8)  Conduct, at a minimum, inspections of track and

31  rolling stock; train signals and related equipment; hazardous

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1733

    187-905-01






  1  materials transportation, including the loading, unloading,

  2  and labeling of hazardous materials at shippers', receivers',

  3  and transfer points; and train operating practices to

  4  determine adherence to state and federal standards.

  5  Department personnel may enforce any safety regulation issued

  6  under the Federal Government's preemptive authority over

  7  interstate commerce.

  8         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2001.

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11                          HOUSE SUMMARY

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      Revises provisions relating to responsibility of the
13    Department of Transportation, under the statewide rail
      program, to develop and administer state standards
14    concerning the handling of hazardous materials and to
      conduct inspections of hazardous materials
15    transportation.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.