1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to railroads; increasing the number of state rail safety inspectors from six
1.3 to ten; making a technical correction; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
1.4 218.041, subdivision 6; 219.015, subdivision 2.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 218.041, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 6.Investigative powers.In the exercise of powers granted in this chapter, the
1.8commissioner may:
1.9 (1) subpoena books, papers, or accounts kept by any regulated business within or without
1.10the state, or compel production of verified copies;
1.11 (2) prepare all forms or blanks for obtaining information that the commissioner may
1.12deem necessary or useful for the proper exercise of the authority and duties of the
1.13commissioner in connection with regulated businesses, and prescribe the time and manner
1.14within which the blanks and forms must be completed and filed;
1.15 (3) inspect, at all reasonable times, and copy the books, records, memoranda,
1.16correspondence, or other documents and records of any business under the commissioner's
1.17jurisdiction;
1.18 (4) examine, under oath, any officer, agent, or employee of a business under the
1.19commissioner's jurisdiction concerning any matter within the commissioner's jurisdiction;
1.20and
1Section 1.
25-02449 as introduced01/17/25 REVISOR KRB/EN
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1171NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: KUPEC, McEwen, Dibble and Johnson Stewart)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/10/2025
Referred to Transportation 2.1 (5) assess common carriers, administer the state rail safety inspection account, and
2.2perform other duties on behalf of the state rail safety inspector program under section
2.3219.015.
2.4 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.5 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 219.015, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.6 Subd. 2.Railroad company assessment; account; appropriation.(a) As provided in
2.7this subdivision, the commissioner must annually assess railroad companies that are (1)
2.8defined as common carriers under section 218.011; (2) classified by federal law or regulation
2.9as Class I Railroads, Class I Rail Carriers, Class II Railroads, or Class II Rail Carriers; and
2.10(3) operating in this state.
2.11 (b) The assessment must be calculated to allocate state rail safety inspection program
2.12costs proportionally among carriers based on route miles operated in Minnesota at the time
2.13of assessment. The commissioner must include in the assessment calculation all state rail
2.14safety inspection program costs to support up to six ten rail safety inspector positions,
2.15including but not limited to salary, administration, supervision, travel, equipment, training,
2.16and ongoing state rail inspector duties.
2.17 (c) The assessments collected under this subdivision must be deposited in a state rail
2.18safety inspection account, which is established in the special revenue fund. The account
2.19consists of funds provided by this subdivision and section 221.0255 and any other money
2.20donated, allotted, transferred, or otherwise provided to the account. Money in the account
2.21is appropriated to the commissioner to administer the state rail safety inspection program
2.22and for costs under section 221.0255.
2Sec. 2.
25-02449 as introduced01/17/25 REVISOR KRB/EN