MN HF3134

Expands the Commissioner of Public Safety's duties to include railroad and pipeline spill and discharge preparedness, including training local emergency managers, facilitating cooperation between railroads and first responders, and monitoring compliance with preparedness requirements.

Establishes a hazardous incident preparedness grant program funded through the fire safety account for fire departments and emergency first responders to prepare for train derailments and pipeline spills involving oil or hazardous materials, with eligible uses including training, equipment, supplies, and emergency planning.

Creates a new assessment on railroads and pipeline companies totaling $2,500,000 annually (50 percent each), divided proportionally by route miles and transported gallons respectively, with funds deposited into the fire safety account starting July 1, 2014.

Appropriates $2,500,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2015 as a one-time appropriation to the hazardous incident preparedness grant program.

Requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to submit a report by January 15, 2015 to legislative committees assessing state preparedness, costs and needs of first responders, and recommendations for legislative changes regarding oil and hazardous materials transportation by rail and pipeline.