NY State Senate Bill 2023-S6924

Senate Bill S6924

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires railroad corporations to inform the division of homeland security and emergency services, department of environmental conservation, and department of transportation about certain freight rail trains

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 11, 2024	advanced to third reading
Mar 06, 2024	2nd report cal.
Mar 05, 2024	1st report cal.598
Jan 03, 2024	referred to transportation returned to senate died in assembly
May 23, 2023	referred to transportation delivered to assembly passed senate
May 22, 2023	ordered to third reading cal.1123 reported and committed to rules
May 15, 2023	referred to transportation

Votes

- May 23, 2023 - Floor Vote
  S6924
  
  60
  
  Aye
  
  1
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  2
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: May 23, 2023
      
      aye (60)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Ashby
      
      Bailey
      
      Borrello
      
      Breslin
      
      Brisport
      
      Brouk
      
      Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick
      
      Chu
      
      Cleare
      
      Comrie
      
      Felder
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Gonzalez
      
      Gounardes
      
      Griffo
      
      Helming
      
      Hinchey
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jackson
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      Lanza
      
      Liu
      
      Mannion
      
      Martinez
      
      Martins
      
      Mattera
      
      May
      
      Mayer
      
      Murray
      
      Myrie
      
      O'Mara
      
      Oberacker
      
      Ortt
      
      Palumbo
      
      Parker
      
      Persaud
      
      Ramos
      
      Rhoads
      
      Rivera
      
      Rolison
      
      Ryan
      
      Salazar
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Scarcella-Spanton
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Serrano
      
      Skoufis
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stec
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Tedisco
      
      Thomas
      
      Webb
      
      Weber
      
      Weik
      
      nay (1)
      
      Walczyk
      
      excused (2)
      
      Cooney
      
      Harckham
  Mar 5, 2024 - Transportation Committee Vote
  S6924
  
  11
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  2
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Transportation Committee Vote: Mar 5, 2024
      
      aye (11)
      
      Cooney
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gonzalez
      
      Griffo
      
      Harckham
      
      Hinchey
      
      Kennedy
      
      Liu
      
      Mattera
      
      Persaud
      
      Ramos
      
      aye wr (2)
      
      Gallivan
      
      Oberacker
  May 22, 2023 - Transportation Committee Vote
  S6924
  
  12
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Transportation Committee Vote: May 22, 2023
      
      aye (12)
      
      Cooney
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gonzalez
      
      Griffo
      
      Harckham
      
      Hinchey
      
      Kennedy
      
      Liu
      
      Mattera
      
      Oberacker
      
      Persaud
      
      Ramos
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Gallivan
  May 22, 2023 - Rules Committee Vote
  S6924
  
  18
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  3
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Rules Committee Vote: May 22, 2023
      
      aye (18)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Bailey
      
      Breslin
      
      Comrie
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gianaris
      
      Griffo
      
      Helming
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      Lanza
      
      Liu
      
      Mayer
      
      Parker
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Stec
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Thomas
      
      aye wr (3)
      
      Gallivan
      
      O'Mara
      
      Ortt

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2023-S6924 (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:: Railroad Law
Laws Affected:: Add §109, Rail L

2023-S6924 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires railroad corporations to inform the division of homeland security and emergency services, department of environmental conservation and department of transportation about freight rail trains transporting hazardous materials prior to traveling on tracks within the state.

2023-S6924 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6924

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the railroad law, in relation to requiring railroad
corporations to inform the division of homeland security and emergency
services, department of environmental conservation, and department of
transportation about freight rail trains transporting hazardous materi-
als prior to traveling on tracks within the state

 
PURPOSE:

Requires railroad corporations to inform the department of environmental
conservation and the department of transportation about freight rail
trains transporting hazardous materials prior to traveling on tracks
within the state

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the railroad law by adding a new section 109 to
require every railroad corporation which operates any freight train

within the state to inform the department of environmental conservation
and the department of transportation about freight rail trains trans-
porting hazardous materials prior to traveling on tracks within the
state. Establishes that such information must include the same informa-
tion required to be provided to local municipalities pursuant to the
federal FAST Act.

Establishes that the information provided shall be confidential and
shall not be subject to disclosure under article six of the public offi-
cers law or any other provision of law. Empowers the commissioner to
promulgate all rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of
this section.

Section 2. Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The East Palestine train derailment released hazardous materials includ-
ing vinyl chloride, a toxic flammable gas, into the air, surface soil
and surface waters. According to the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources, the spill affected about seven and a half miles of stream and
killed an estimated 3,500 fish. This incident has raised concerns about
the health and safety of East Palestine residents, as many have contin-
ued to report an array of lingering symptoms including headaches and
rashes.

The leakage of hazardous materials poses a significant threat to our
environment, as well as the safety and well-being of the people of the
state. This legislation requires every railroad corporation which oper-
ates any freight train within the state to inform the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Transportation
(DOT) about freight rail trains transporting hazardous materials prior
to traveling on tracks within the state. This critical information will
ensure the DOT and DEC are able to act in a swift manner in the event of
the leakage of hazardous materials within the State.


It is of paramount importance that the State take the precautionary
measures necessary to protect both our environment and the public.  The
enactment of this legislation will serve as an additional safeguard for
the people of the State by facilitating a timely and efficient response
by first responders in the event of any leakage of harmful chemicals.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
On the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective imme-
diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

2023-S6924 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6924
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the railroad law,  in  relation  to  requiring  railroad
   corporations to inform the division of homeland security and emergency
   services,  department of environmental conservation, and department of
   transportation about freight rail trains transporting hazardous  mate-
   rials prior to traveling on tracks within the state
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The railroad law is amended by adding a new section 109  to
 read as follows:
   § 109. TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. 1. EVERY RAILROAD CORPO-
 RATION  WHICH  OPERATES  ANY FREIGHT TRAIN WITHIN THE STATE SHALL INFORM
 THE DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT  OF
 ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION,  AND  DEPARTMENT  OF  TRANSPORTATION  ABOUT
 FREIGHT RAIL TRAINS TRANSPORTING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PRIOR TO  TRAVELING
 ON  TRACKS  WITHIN  THE  STATE,  AND SHALL PROMPTLY UPDATE THE HAZARDOUS
 WASTE MANIFEST. SUCH INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
 SHALL INCLUDE THE SAME INFORMATION REQUIRED  TO  BE  PROVIDED  TO  LOCAL
 MUNICIPALITIES  PURSUANT TO PUBLIC LAW 114-94, THE FEDERAL FIXING AMERI-
 CA'S SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT.
   2. INFORMATION PROVIDED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE  OF  THIS  SECTION
 SHALL BE CONFIDENTIAL AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER ARTI-
 CLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW OR ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW.
   3. THE COMMISSIONERS SHALL PROMULGATE ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS NECES-
 SARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law; provided, however, that  this  act  shall  be  deemed
 repealed if any federal agency determines in writing that this act would
 render New York state ineligible for the receipt of federal funds or any
 court  of  competent jurisdiction finally determines that this act would
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10668-02-3

 S. 6924                             2
 
 render New York state out of compliance with federal law or  regulation;
 and  provided  that  the commissioner of transportation shall notify the
 legislative bill drafting commission  upon  any  such  determination  in
 order  that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective
 data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New  York  in
 furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legisla-
 tive  law  and  section 70-b of the public officers law. Effective imme-
 diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
 necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective  date  are
 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S6924

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Sponsored By

James Skoufis

Current Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

co-Sponsors

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.

Timothy M. Kennedy

Rachel May

Rob Rolison

2023-S6924 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S6924 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S6924 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S6924 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments