HF 1708

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 04/01/2025 12:34pm

A bill for an act
relating to railroads; increasing the number of state rail safety inspectors from six
to ten; making a technical correction; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
218.041, subdivision 6; 219.015, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 218.041, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Investigative powers.

In the exercise of powers granted in this chapter, the
commissioner may:

(1) subpoena books, papers, or accounts kept by any regulated business within or without
the state, or compel production of verified copies;

(2) prepare all forms or blanks for obtaining information that the commissioner may
deem necessary or useful for the proper exercise of the authority and duties of the
commissioner in connection with regulated businesses, and prescribe the time and manner
within which the blanks and forms must be completed and filed;

(3) inspect, at all reasonable times, and copy the books, records, memoranda,
correspondence, or other documents and records of any business under the commissioner's
jurisdiction;

(4) examine, under oath, any officer, agent, or employee of a business under the
commissioner's jurisdiction concerning any matter within the commissioner's jurisdiction;
and

(5) assess common carriers, administer the state rail safety inspection account, and
perform other duties on behalf of the state rail safety inspector new text begin program new text end under section
219.015.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 219.015, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Railroad company assessment; account; appropriation.

(a) As provided in
this subdivision, the commissioner must annually assess railroad companies that are (1)
defined as common carriers under section 218.011; (2) classified by federal law or regulation
as Class I Railroads, Class I Rail Carriers, Class II Railroads, or Class II Rail Carriers; and
(3) operating in this state.

(b) The assessment must be calculated to allocate state rail safety inspection program
costs proportionally among carriers based on route miles operated in Minnesota at the time
of assessment. The commissioner must include in the assessment calculation all state rail
safety inspection program costs to support up to deleted text begin six deleted text end new text begin ten new text end rail safety inspector positions,
including but not limited to salary, administration, supervision, travel, equipment, training,
and ongoing state rail inspector duties.

(c) The assessments collected under this subdivision must be deposited in a state rail
safety inspection account, which is established in the special revenue fund. The account
consists of funds provided by this subdivision and section 221.0255 and any other money
donated, allotted, transferred, or otherwise provided to the account. Money in the account
is appropriated to the commissioner to administer the state rail safety inspection program
and for costs under section 221.0255.