HB279 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Railroads, qualified employees required to operate railroad train in this state, criminal penalties

Summary

HB279 would require every railroad train operating in Alabama to have at least two qualified crew members (an engineer and a conductor) and would establish penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

It defines what counts as a 'qualified employee' (trained and tested per railroad rules and federal CFR standards). It would ban operating a train unless both a qualified engineer and a qualified conductor are on board. It imposes fines for willful violations, ranging from $250 to $1,000. It also states that the rule won't conflict with federal railroad regulations and notes the local-funding provisions are addressed by a constitutional exception, with the law taking effect 30 days after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Railroad operators and companies in Alabama, who must staff each train with at least two qualified employees and may face fines for noncompliance.
• Railroad workers, specifically engineers and conductors, who must meet training and testing requirements to be considered qualified and eligible to operate trains.

Key Provisions

• Qualified employee is someone who has completed all required training and testing as required by the railroad and CFR 49 Part 240.
• No railroad train may be operated in the state unless the crew includes a qualified engineer and a qualified conductor.
• Willful violations are punishable by a fine of $250 to $1,000.
• The bill does not apply if it would conflict with Federal Railroad Administration regulations.
• Because the bill defines a new crime, it is excluded from the local-funding requirement under Amendment 621, and becomes effective 30 days after the Governor signs.

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

Subjects

Railroads