NY State Senate Bill S6924

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (6)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
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

view votes

May 23, 2023 - floor Vote

S6924

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

May 22, 2023 - Rules committee Vote

S6924

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

May 22, 2023 - Transportation committee Vote

S6924

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Co-Sponsors

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Assembly Transportation
Law Section:: Railroad Law
Laws Affected:: Add §109, Rail L

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.

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.

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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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S6924

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 23, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 23, 2023

May 22, 2023 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: May 22, 2023

May 22, 2023 - Transportation committee Vote

Transportation Committee Vote: May 22, 2023

Co-Sponsors

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Details

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S6924

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Sponsored By

James Skoufis

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 23, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 23, 2023

May 22, 2023 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: May 22, 2023

May 22, 2023 - Transportation committee Vote

Transportation Committee Vote: May 22, 2023

Co-Sponsors

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr

Timothy M. Kennedy

Rachel May

Rob Rolison

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Details

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6924 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments