HB484 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Napoleon BracyRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Transportation, rail carriers, Safe Freight Act, minimum crew requirements, provided

Summary

HB 484 would require trains in Alabama to have at least two crew members, outline penalties for violations, and establish exemptions and a PSC-driven process for certain operations and hazardous materials.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits operating a train without at least two crew members, one FRA-certified locomotive operator and one train conductor, with fines that escalate by conviction. It creates exceptions for certain types of operations (helper service, tourist/excursion trains, lite locomotives, yard operations, and slow assembly-line loading/unloading). It allows the President of the Public Service Commission to grant time-limited exemptions after a hearing under specific conditions. It also mandates two crew members when transporting poisonous inhalation materials or large quantities of hazardous substances. The bill notes it is excluded from the local-funding expenditure rules because it defines a crime, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Railroad workers (locomotive operators and train conductors) who must be part of a two-person crew and who face fines if they violate the rule.
• Railroad carriers and related entities (railroad companies and the Public Service Commission) who must implement the two-person crew requirement, may apply for exemptions, and face enforcement and penalties.

Key Provisions

• Section 2(a): A train may not be operated with fewer than two crew members, one being a FRA-certified locomotive operator and the other a train conductor; violations are Class C misdemeanors with escalating fines: $250-$500 for first, $500-$2,500 for second within 3 years, and $2,500-$5,000 for third or subsequent convictions within 3 years.
• Section 2(b): Trains may operate with fewer than two crew under specific conditions (helper service, tourist/excursion operation, lite locomotive within 30 miles, yard operations supervised by a hostler, or slow assembly-line loading/unloading).
• Section 2(c): The PSC President may exempt certain small carriers (not more than 15 employees) from the two-person crew rule under conditions (max speed ≤15 mph and low grades), with a full hearing and annual review.
• Section 2(d): A minimum of two crew members is required when transporting poisonous inhalation materials or certain hazardous substances (as defined by regulatory categories).
• Section 3: The bill is treated as exempt from Amendment 621’s local-funds requirements because it defines a new crime or an amendment to crime definitions.
• Section 4: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after 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

Transportation