Bill Text: PA HB1724 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Further providing for the Rail Freight Advisory Committee.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-06-16 - Referred to TRANSPORTATION [HB1724 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1724-Introduced.html

---

PRINTER'S NO. 2176
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1724 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY LONGIETTI, MURPHY, BROWN, CARROLL, D. COSTA, DENLINGER, FREEMAN, GIBBONS, BELFANTI, HARHAI, HARKINS, HOUGHTON, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, PALLONE, PETRARCA, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY AND SABATINA, JUNE 16, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 16, 2009
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 5, 1984 (P.L.587, No.119), entitled "An
act empowering the Department of Transportation to preserve
and improve rail freight service in the Commonwealth by
making grants, loans or other assistance available to
qualified applicants; authorizing a comprehensive rail study;
making an appropriation; and making repeals," further
providing for the Rail Freight Advisory Committee.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 4 of the act of July 5, 1984 (P.L.587,
No.119), known as the Rail Freight Preservation and Improvement
Act, amended December 21, 1988 (P.L.1898, No.188), is amended to
read:
Section 4. Rail Freight Advisory Committee.
(a) Creation.--There is hereby created a Rail Freight
Advisory Committee, which shall consist of [24] 29 members. The
members shall be as follows:
(1) The Secretary of Transportation, ex officio.
(2) The Secretary of Commerce, ex officio.
(3) The Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission, ex officio.
(4) The Chairman and Minority Chairman of the Senate
Transportation Committee.
(5) The Chairman and Minority Chairman of the
Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives.
(6) [Seventeen] Twenty-two members of the public
representing the areas of concern specified who shall have
extensive experience and knowledge of rail freight
transportation activities throughout the Commonwealth to be
appointed by the Governor as follows:
(i) Two representatives of Class I railroad
companies.
(ii) Three representatives of regional
railroad/short line operation.
(iii) Six representative rail shippers, each to
represent one of the following areas:
(A) Coal.
(B) Steel.
(C) Lumber.
(D) Intermodal.
(E) Chemical.
(F) Food products/agriculture.
(iv) Four representatives of organized labor, each
to represent one of the following areas:
(A) Coal labor.
(B) Steel labor.
(C) Intermodal labor.
(D) Railway labor.
[(iv)] (v) One representative from the Pennsylvania
20090HB1724PN2176 - 2 -
Chamber of Commerce.
(vi) One representative from the Pennsylvania AFL-
CIO.
[(v)] (vii) Two representatives of regional/local
economic development groups.
[(vi)] (viii) Two representatives of regional/local
planning commissions.
[(vii)] (ix) One representative of rail contractors/
suppliers.
Each member may designate a representative to serve in his or
her stead. A member who designates a representative shall notify
the chairman, in writing, of the designation.
(b) Appointment of Public Labor Representatives.--The
members appointed under subsection (a)(6)(iv) and (vi) shall be
selected from a list containing three nominees submitted to the
Governor by the highest ranking official within the Pennsylvania
AFL-CIO.
[(b)] (c) Terms of appointees.--The term of all members of
the committee appointed by the Governor shall be for three
years, however, the initial terms of these members shall be as
follows:
(1) One year for the representative of a Class I
railroad.
(2) Two years for the representative of a Class III
railroad.
(3) Three years for the representative of a railroad
shipper.
Any member of the committee may be reappointed for an additional
term or terms. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall
serve only for the unexpired term.
20090HB1724PN2176 - 3 -
[(c)] (d) Meetings and expenses.--The committee shall meet
at least four times every 12 months, but may hold such
additional meetings as are called by the chairman or by petition
of at least seven committee members. The public members of the
committee shall be allowed per diem expenses, to be set by the
committee, but not to exceed $75. The department shall provide
appropriate staff support to enable the committee to properly
carry out its functions.
[(d)] (e) Powers and duties.--The power and duty of the
committee shall be to advise and comment on the comprehensive
rail freight study, to advise and comment on all phases of the
rail freight transportation program activities being undertaken
or financially assisted by the department, and to propose
methods, strategies or technologies for improving rail freight
transportation services systems or facilities within the
Commonwealth. The committee shall periodically submit reports of
its deliberations and conclusions to the Governor, members of
the General Assembly and the State Transportation Commission.
The committee and its statutory functions and duties shall
terminate and go out of existence on December 31, 1993, unless
reestablished or continued by the General Assembly. Evaluation
and review, termination, reestablishment and continuation of the
agency shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the act
of December 22, 1981 (P.L.508, No.142), known as the Sunset Act.
[(e)] (f) Chairperson.--The members of the committee shall
annually elect a chairperson, a vice chairperson and a secretary
from among the public members appointed to the committee.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20090HB1724PN2176 - 4 -