ARIZONA STATE SENATE
RESEARCH STAFF
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CAROLYN SPERONI |
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LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE Telephone: (602) 926 -3171 |
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
DATE: February 15, 2018
SUBJECT: Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1181, relating to corporation commission; railway safety inspection
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Purpose
Appropriates $196,600 from the state General Fund in FY 2019 to the Corporation Commission for the purpose of funding two railway safety inspectors.
Background
The Corporation Commission indicates that there are approximately 3000 miles of railroad track in Arizona and about 560 public railroad crossings. One of the nation's busiest routes is the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad that crosses the northern third of Arizona, carrying freight from Los Angeles ports into the core of the nation. The Union Pacific (UP), crossing the southern third of Arizona, has recently double-tracked major portions of its route adding many more miles of track to the Arizona rail system.
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Safety Division, Railroad Safety Section, protects the public, railroad employees and the environment through enforcement of A.R.S. Title 40, ACC Rules and Regulations, and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR Title 49). The ACC, in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration, performs inspections and other monitoring activities to ensure that the railroads meet the minimum safety requirements required by these regulations by conducting inspections, accident investigations, implementation of assessments and enforcement actions.
The fiscal impact to the state General Fund is the amount of the appropriation.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $196,600 from the state General Fund in FY 2019, in addition to any other appropriations, to the Corporation Commission for the purpose of funding two railway safety inspectors.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.