Senate Bill No. 291

Senate Bill No. 291-Senator Titus

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AN ACT relating to railroads; expanding the authority of the public service commission of Nevada to regulate the safety of railroads in this state; requiring the commission to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Transportation concerning the enforcement in this state of federal safety regulations and orders applicable to railroads; authorizing the commission to accept and expend federal money for carrying out a safety program relating to railroads; requiring the commission to adopt certain regulations relating to railroad safety; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

[Approved July 8, 1997]

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Chapter 703 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a new section to read as follows:
The commission shall:
1. Enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 20105 that authorizes the commission to participate in the enforcement of federal safety regulations and orders applicable to railroad equipment, facilities, rolling stock and operations in this state.
2. Accept and expend any federal money made available pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 20105 for carrying out a safety program relating to railroads.
Sec. 2. Chapter 704 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a new section to read as follows:
The commission shall:
1. Perform such duties and functions as are necessary:
(a) To ensure the safety of railroad equipment, facilities, rolling stock and operations in this state.
(b) For this state to participate in any federal safety program relating to railroads.
2. Adopt such regulations as it determines are necessary in carrying out the provisions of this section.
Sec. 3. The public service commission of Nevada shall:
1. Review, study and evaluate:
(a) The existing regulations of the commission concerning the safety of railroads in this state.
(b) The statutes and regulations of other states concerning the safety of railroads.
(c) The statutes and regulations of the Federal Government concerning the safety of railroads.
2. Adopt regulations concerning the safety of railroads in this state that incorporate the provisions of the statutes and regulations of other states and the Federal Government relating to railroad safety which the commission determines are appropriate for this state.
3. Submit a report to the director of the legislative counsel bureau, on or before December 31, 1998, for transmittal to the 70th session of the legislature, that sets forth the actions taken by the commission pursuant to this act.
Sec. 4. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.
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