Bill > H2850

This bill aims to improve public safety during excavation by enhancing the "Dig Safe" Program, which is a system designed to prevent damage to underground utilities. It clarifies the definition of an "emergency" to include sudden dangers to life, health, or property, interruptions in essential utility services, or blocked transportation routes requiring immediate action. The bill also introduces new terms like "marking standards," referring to established methods for designating underground facilities, and "non-mechanical means," which describes excavation methods using human power and tools like air vacuums to minimize direct contact with utilities. Furthermore, it mandates that markings for underground facilities should, when practical, indicate their width, material, the presence of multiple lines, and any changes in direction or endpoints, with a provision for corridor markers if the total number of buried lines is unknown. Companies will be required to conduct regular checks to ensure the accuracy of their facility markings and their adherence to these standards. Finally, the bill allows the Department of Telecommunications and Energy to require non-compliant individuals or companies to complete a "Dig Safe" training program instead of paying a fine for a first offense, and it exempts excavators from penalties if damage occurs due to a company's failure to comply with relevant regulations.