Directs the department of state to provide municipalities with reimbursement for 75% of the costs of making road equipment less likely to rollover

BILL NUMBER:S3418

Title of bill

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to providing state reimbursement for a portion of the expenses of retrofitting municipal construction and road equipment to prevent rollovers

Purpose

This legislation creates a retrofit rebate program for local municipalities to retrofit unprotected construction and/or road equipment to prevent rollovers of such equipment.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Amends the highway law by adding a new section 318 creating a retrofit rebate program for local municipalities to retrofit unprotected construction and/or road equipment to prevent rollovers of such equipment. This retrofit rebate program will provide local municipalities with a 75% rebate for purchase and installation expenses to retrofit a piece of construction, excavation and/or road equipment owned by a local government(s) to prevent overturns of such equipment. The Department of State will determine what protective equipment is sufficient/suitable for rollover protection on construction and excavating machinery. The Department will also define what construction and excavating machinery is eligible for funding.

Section 2: Sets forth the effective date

Justification

This legislation, Charlie's Law, creates a retrofit rebate program which provides local municipalities with a 75% rebate for purchase and installation expenses to retrofit a piece of construction, excavation and/or road equipment owned by a local government(s) to prevent overturns of such equipment.

In an unfortunate, and preventable incident, Charles Hitchcock, Jr. of Knapp Creek, NY was killed in a work-related accident in July 2007 when the rolling compactor he was operating overturned. His death could have been avoided had a roll-bar been installed on his equipment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, fatal highway construction incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal work-related event, accounting for nearly one out of four fatal work injuries in 2006.

This legislative incentive will enable our local governments to keep their construction employees safe and give workers and their families peace of mind while their loved ones are working in the construction industry.

Legislative history

2013-2014: S.5921 Referred to Transportation 2011-2012: S.765 Referred to Transportation 2009-2010: S.2206 Referred to Transportation 2008: S.7682 Passed Senate

Fiscal implications

Undetermined at this time.

Effective date

January 1 succeeding enactment into law.