PRINTER'S NO. 536
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.540
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SCHMITT, DELLOSO, M. MACKENZIE, GILLEN AND
NEILSON, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in railroads, providing for crew
requirement; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 2710. Crew requirement.
(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a
freight train in this Commonwealth shall be operated with a crew
of at least two individuals, one of whom must be a conductor and
one of whom must be a locomotive engineer.
(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to any of the
following:
(1) A freight train operated within a repair, mechanical
or servicing facility and yard connected to the facility.
(2) Any other freight train described by the commission
in accordance with subsection (c).
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18 (c) Consistency with Federal law and regulations.--The
commission may promulgate rules and regulations providing an
additional exception to subsection (a), if the exception is
required by Federal law or regulation and the commission's rule
or regulation is consistent with the Federal law or regulation.
(d) Penalties.--A railroad that violates subsection (a)
shall be assessed a civil penalty in the following amounts:
(1) A fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000
for a first offense.
(2) A fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than
$15,000 for a second offense committed within three years of
the first offense.
(3) A fine of not less than $15,000 nor more than
$20,000 for a third offense and subsequent offenses committed
within three years of the first offense.
(e) Deposit of penalties.--Notwithstanding section 3315
(relating to disposition of fines and penalties), a penalty
collected under this section shall be deposited into the General
Fund, deemed an augmentation to any appropriation to the
commission and used to administer and enforce this chapter.
(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Freight locomotive." A railroad locomotive used exclusively
for the conveyance of property.
"Freight train." One or more freight locomotives coupled to
rail cars.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB0540PN0536 - 2 -
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