BILL NUMBER: S2048
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to requiring the
department of transportation to establish a central registry of reports,
audits, plans and public inspections for freight trains and freight
rail lines
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require the establishment of a central registry main-
tained on the Department of Transportation's website that would serve as
a database of all reports, audits, and public inspections for freight
trains and freight rail lines.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 requires the department of transportation to establish a
central registry on its website to serve as a database of all reports,
audits, and public inspections for trains and freight rail lines.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In the aftermath of the derailment of a freight rail train in East
Palestine, Ohio, it has become clear that communities and community
members desire and deserve greater transparency regarding freight rail
safety. This bill would help address that need by assembling a central
database where any reports, audits, and public inspections that are
accessible by the department of transportation would be made publicly
available.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S2048: 14 transportation law