HB110 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ron Johnson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Utility and other underground facilities, One-Call Notification System or Call Before You Dig, all underground facility operators required to be members, responsibility of operators conducting in-house program regarding notifications, further provided for, Sec. 37-15-5 am'd.

Summary

HB110 would change who is responsible for damages when digging near underground utilities by requiring operators to join the One-Call system or run an in-house notification program with new rules and reporting requirements.

What This Bill Does

It requires underground facility operators to either participate in the One-Call Notification System or operate an in-house notification program that meets specific operational rules. Operators running in-house programs would be liable for damages if they fail to meet those requirements. Smaller operators with fewer than 10,000 customers may run in-house programs only during business hours and may not be required to voice-record calls. The bill also creates a process for certain non-profit, public, or governmental entities to seek authorization to run the One-Call System through the Public Service Commission and imposes information-sharing and record-keeping duties on operators.

Who It Affects

• Underground facility operators (utilities, pipelines, etc.) who must choose between joining the One-Call System or running an in-house notification program and who could be liable for damages if their in-house program fails to meet requirements.
• Excavators and contractors (the digging public) who must notify the appropriate operator and rely on either the One-Call System or an in-house system for location information before digging.

Key Provisions

• Operators must either provide an in-house notification program that meets operational requirements or participate in the One-Call Notification System; smaller operators with fewer than 10,000 customers may run in-house only during business hours and may not be required to voice-record calls.
• If an operator elects in-house and fails to meet the requirements, they are responsible for damages to their underground facilities caused by excavators who contacted the One-Call System or in-house program.
• Non-profit, public, or governmental entities can apply to the Alabama Public Service Commission for a certificate to operate a One-Call Notification System, with the PSC having authority to issue and revoke the certificate.
• Operators must notify the public and excavators of the availability and use of in-house or One-Call systems as required by applicable regulations.
• Each notification requires an individual reference file number, and operators must provide the names of the operators to which notifications will be transmitted.
• Adequate records of notifications must be kept for at least three years and available for proper requests.
• One-Call services should operate on working days, at least from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• One-Call must voice-record calls; after-hours calls should reach a voice recording explaining emergency procedures.
• Members of a One-Call System must supply information to the system, including: a list of cities/towns with underground facilities, township/range/section information, total trench or right-of-way miles of underground facilities in Alabama (updated annually), and emergency contact details.
• The One-Call System must promptly transmit information received from excavators to the appropriate member operators.
• Operators must notify the One-Call System within 30 days of changes in information (locations, installations, etc.).
• The act takes effect January 1 after its passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

One-Call Notification System