Bill Summary: HB 5118 - Underground Damage Prevention Program

• Updates Connecticut's "Call Before You Dig" program statutes to reflect current practices and technologies, effective October 1, 2015.

• Expands the definition of "public utility" to include communications, fire signal, and similar services; clarifies that private residential utility facilities are excluded.

• Broadens excavation definition to include dredging, reclamation processes, and milling; establishes that notice requirements apply to discharge of explosives and demolition activities in addition to excavation.

• Requires use of hand digging or soft digging (non-mechanical excavation using high-pressure water or air jets) when excavating near underground facilities containing combustible or hazardous fluids or gases.

• Increases maximum civil penalty for violations to $40,000, with a reduced cap of $1,000 for public utilities' marking failures that cause no property damage or personal injury and are not due to gross negligence.