HLS 20RS-1260 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 776
BY REPRESENTATIVE LACOMBE
RAILROADS: Requires a two person crew on trains transporting freight
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 45:570, relative to railroads; to require a two-person crew on trains carrying
3 freight; to prescribe penalties; and to provide for related matters.
4Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
5 Section 1. R.S. 45:570 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
6 ยง570. Railroads; minimum crew size
7 A. No railroad train or light engine used in connection with the movement
8 of freight shall be operated in this state unless it has a crew consisting of at least two
9 individuals. As used in this Section, the phrase "railroad train or light engine used
10 in connection with the movement of freight" shall not include hostler service or
11 utility employees. Any owner, operator, or supervisor of a railroad who violates this
12 Section is subject to the following:
13 (1) A penalty of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one
14 thousand dollars for the first violation.
15 (2) A penalty of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five
16 thousand dollars for the second violation committed within a three-year period.
17 (3) A penalty of not less than five thousand dollars nor more than ten
18 thousand dollars for a third or subsequent violation committed within a three-year
19 period.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-1260 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 776
1 B. The provisions of this Section shall be enforced by the Public Service
2 Commission and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state
3 police.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 776 Original 2020 Regular Session LaCombe
Abstract: Requires a two-person crew on trains carrying freight and provides for penalties
and enforcement.
Proposed law prohibits the operation of a railroad train or light engine used in connection
with the movement of freight without a crew consisting of a minimum of two individuals.
Proposed law excludes hostler service or utility employees from the phrase "railroad train
or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight".
Proposed law provides for the assessment of penalties for violation against an owner,
operator, or supervisor of a railroad as follows: not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for
the first violation; not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 for a second violation
committed within a three-year period; and not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for
a third or subsequent violation committed within a three-year period.
Proposed law provides for enforcement by the Public Service Commission and the Dept. of
Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police.
(Adds R.S. 45:570)
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.