VA SB 779

Author

Jennifer Foy
General Assembly Building, Room 501, 201 North 9th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-698-7533
senatorcarrollfoy@senate.virginia.gov
Author Detail Link

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Bill Text

Category

Rail

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State

VA

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Summary

Requires railroad companies to comply with federal requirements for minimum train crews on all trains, locomotives, or light engines used in connection with moving freight and provides civil penalties for violations of such requirement.

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Issue

Provides that no railroad company shall use or allow the use of any train, locomotive, or light engine in connection
with the movement of freight unless such railroad company complies with the minimum train crew size safety
requirements under 49 C.F.R. 218.121 through 218.137, as amended from time to time. The provisions of
this section shall not apply to the use of a train, locomotive, or light engine for hostler or utility service. Any
railroad company in violation of the provisions of this section shall, in the discretion of the Commission, be fined not less than $500 nor more than $2,000. For a second violation within three years, such railroad company shall, in the discretion of the Commission, be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. For a third or subsequent violation within three years of the first violation, such railroad company shall, in the
discretion of the Commission, be fined not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000. The number of violations
within three years shall be measured by the dates that the violations occur.

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Notes

Pending introduction and Committee action.

History

12/26/2024 Prefiled and referred to Senate Committee on Transportation.
01/16/2025 Re-referred from Senate Committee on Transportation to Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor.
01/27/2025 Reported from Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor.
01/29/2025Constitutional reading dispensed on 1st reading.
01/29/2025 Passed by for the day.
01/29/2025 Rules suspended.
01/30/2025 Read second time in Senate and engrossed.
01/31/2025 Read third time and passed Senate.
02/06/2025 Read first time in House. Referred to House Committee on Labor and Commerce.