PRINTER'S NO. 536
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 540
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SCHMITT, DELLOSO, M. MACKENZIE, GILLEN AND
NEILSON, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, in railroads, providing for crew
3 requirement; and imposing penalties.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 2710. Crew requirement.
9 (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a
10 freight train in this Commonwealth shall be operated with a crew
11 of at least two individuals, one of whom must be a conductor and
12 one of whom must be a locomotive engineer.
13 (b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to any of the
14 following:
15 (1) A freight train operated within a repair, mechanical
16 or servicing facility and yard connected to the facility.
17 (2) Any other freight train described by the commission
18 in accordance with subsection (c).
 1 (c) Consistency with Federal law and regulations.--The
2 commission may promulgate rules and regulations providing an
3 additional exception to subsection (a), if the exception is
4 required by Federal law or regulation and the commission's rule
5 or regulation is consistent with the Federal law or regulation.
6 (d) Penalties.--A railroad that violates subsection (a)
7 shall be assessed a civil penalty in the following amounts:
8 (1) A fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000
9 for a first offense.
10 (2) A fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than
11 $15,000 for a second offense committed within three years of
12 the first offense.
13 (3) A fine of not less than $15,000 nor more than
14 $20,000 for a third offense and subsequent offenses committed
15 within three years of the first offense.
16 (e) Deposit of penalties.--Notwithstanding section 3315
17 (relating to disposition of fines and penalties), a penalty
18 collected under this section shall be deposited into the General
19 Fund, deemed an augmentation to any appropriation to the
20 commission and used to administer and enforce this chapter.
21 (f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
22 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
23 subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
24 "Freight locomotive." A railroad locomotive used exclusively
25 for the conveyance of property.
26 "Freight train." One or more freight locomotives coupled to
27 rail cars.
28 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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