SF 147 (LSB 1302XS (2) 86)

SENATE FILE 147

BY  MATHIS

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring the conducting of an underground facility low-impact marking study.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOW-IMPACT MARKING —— STUDY.
   1.  The utilities board of the utilities division of the department of commerce, in consultation with the statewide notification center established in section 480.3, shall conduct an underground facility low-impact marking study. The objective of the study shall be to determine underground facility marking practices, procedures, and techniques which will provide sufficient notice to excavators of the existence and location of underground facilities in the least conspicuous and least permanent manner possible. The study shall include examination of underground facility low-impact marking approaches undertaken in other states, the merits of water-based marking formulations and the utilization of nonpaint marking products, and methods for educating operators regarding underground facility low-impact marking options.
   2.  For the purposes of this section, “excavator”, “operator”, and “underground facility” mean the same as defined in section 480.1.
   3.  The board shall submit a report containing findings and recommendations to the members of the general assembly by January 1, 2016.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill directs the Iowa utilities board, in consultation with the statewide notification center established in Code section 480.3, to conduct an underground facility low-impact marking study.
   The bill provides that the objective of the study shall be to determine underground facility marking practices, procedures, and techniques which will provide sufficient notice to excavators of the existence and location of underground facilities in the least conspicuous and least permanent manner possible. The study is required to include examination of underground facility low-impact marking approaches undertaken in other states, the merits of water-based marking formulations and the utilization of nonpaint marking products, and methods for educating operators regarding underground facility low-impact marking options.
   The bill requires the board to submit a report containing findings and recommendations to the members of the general assembly by January 1, 2016.