Bill > HB227

This bill modifies excavation requirements by updating definitions and procedures related to underground utility facilities, aiming to improve safety and prevent damage. Key changes include extending the timeframe for contractors to notify protection services before starting excavation to sixteen calendar days, and for utility owners to mark underground facilities to at least two working days after notification. The bill also clarifies reporting requirements for damage to underground utility facilities, mandating that excavators report such damage to both the utility and the protection service, and specifies that if the utility owner is unknown, reporting to the protection service fulfills this obligation. Additionally, it expands the training requirements for excavators and other relevant parties to include topics like the 811 notification process and Ohio's universal marking standards, and refines exemptions for certain types of excavation, such as localized pavement repairs and utility pole inspections, to better define when these rules apply. The bill also introduces new definitions for terms like "utility appurtenances" and "localized pavement repair" to provide clearer guidance.