House File 314 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 314 BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 10) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the definition of utility maintenance 1 vehicle. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1533HV (2) 87 ns/rh
H.F. 314 Section 1. Section 321.1, Code 2017, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsections: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 89A. “Utility maintenance vehicle” means 3 a motor vehicle operated by an employee or contractor of an 4 entity, including but not limited to the state, a political 5 subdivision of the state, or any commission, department, or 6 agency thereof, an electric cooperative association, or a 7 public or private corporation, in connection with the provision 8 of utility services. 9 NEW SUBSECTION . 89B. “Utility services” means cable, 10 electric, natural gas, solid waste and recycling collection, 11 telephone, telecommunication, water, and wastewater treatment 12 services and includes but is not limited to the improvement, 13 installation, maintenance, relocation, or repair of cables, 14 fibers, pipes, utility poles, utility structures, wires, and 15 associated right-of-way and other infrastructure associated 16 with such services. 17 EXPLANATION 18 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 19 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 20 Under Code section 321.323A, the driver of a motor vehicle 21 approaching a stationary utility maintenance vehicle displaying 22 flashing lights must approach the utility maintenance vehicle 23 with due caution and make a lane change into a lane not 24 adjacent to the utility maintenance vehicle, or if a lane 25 change is impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, the driver 26 must reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and 27 proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions and 28 be prepared to stop. Under Code section 321.423, a utility 29 maintenance vehicle is permitted to display flashing amber 30 lights. “Utility maintenance vehicle” is not defined in the 31 Code. 32 This bill provides that “utility maintenance vehicle” means 33 a motor vehicle operated by an employee or contractor of an 34 entity, including but not limited to the state, a political 35 -1- LSB 1533HV (2) 87 ns/rh 1/ 2
H.F. 314 subdivision of the state, or any commission, department, or 1 agency thereof, an electric cooperative association, or a 2 public or private corporation, in connection with the provision 3 of utility services. The bill defines “utility services” to 4 mean cable, electric, natural gas, solid waste and recycling 5 collection, telephone, telecommunication, water, and wastewater 6 treatment services and includes but is not limited to the 7 improvement, installation, maintenance, relocation, or repair 8 of cables, fibers, pipes, utility poles, utility structures, 9 wires, and associated right-of-way and other infrastructure 10 associated with such services. 11 -2- LSB 1533HV (2) 87 ns/rh 2/ 2