1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to railroads; regulating remote-control operation of trains over highway 
1.3 	intersections and bridges and near international border;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2006, section 219.383, by adding subdivisions.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 219.383, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 5.Remote-control operation. In accordance with United States Code, title 
1.9 	49, section 20106, a new railway corporation, leasing entity, or operating consortium, or 
1.10 	any new ownership combination of them, that is not a Class I Common Carrier Railroad, 
1.11 	shall not allow the remote-control operation of a railroad locomotive, engine, or other 
1.12 	railroad equipment moving across a multiple-use or multimodal bridge, or moving within 
1.13 	one statute aerial mile of an international border, unless its movement is made by at least 
1.14 	two qualified employees who have been trained and certified as remote-control operators 
1.15 	(RCO's), who are electronically linked to and in control of the same locomotive, who are 
1.16 	propelling the locomotive's movement, and who are on or about the front, and on or about 
1.17 	the rear, of the same movement. To be qualified and certified as an RCO, the operator must 
1.18 	have successfully completed a basic training program approved by the Federal Railroad 
1.19 	Administration in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, sections 240.101 
1.20 	and 240.103. An RCO must also be provided with any additional training that may be 
1.21 	required under Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, part 240, for other related duties. A 
1.22 	multiple-use or multimodal bridge is defined as a bridge with decking on which railroad 
1.23 	equipment, vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians may travel separately or simultaneously.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 219.383, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.2 	to read:
2.3 		Subd. 6.Remote-control operation over road. All common carrier remote-control 
2.4 	operation of a locomotive, with or without cars coupled, for movement over a public 
2.5 	crossing at grade must be protected by an electronic flasher signal system that has as a 
2.6 	component of design and operation (1) four-quadrant protective gates or (2) a center 
2.7 	median barrier design with standard protective gates.