AB977, s. 48 8Section 48. 191.21 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,19,12 9191.21 Notices in counties without newspapers. If no newspaper is
10published in any county in which a railroad is proposed to be located, the publications
11required by this chapter may be made in such manner and at such places as the office
12department shall designate.
AB977, s. 49 13Section 49. 192.001 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB977,19,1514 192.001 (1r) "Division of hearings and appeals" means the division of hearings
15and appeals in the department of administration.
AB977, s. 50 16Section 50. 192.001 (2) of the statutes is repealed.
AB977, s. 51 17Section 51. 192.15 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,19,2318 192.15 (14) If in any particular case any exemption from any requirement of
19this section is deemed necessary by a carrier, the office department shall consider the
20application of the carrier for exemption and may grant the exemption when
21accompanied by a full statement of the conditions existing and the reasons for the
22exemption. Any exemption so granted shall be limited to the particular case specified
23and shall be limited to a stated period of time.
AB977, s. 52 24Section 52. 192.25 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,20,3
1192.25 (3) (a) The office department, by rule, may grant an exception to sub.
2(2) if the office department determines that the exception will not endanger the life
3or property of any person.
AB977, s. 53 4Section 53. 192.27 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,20,135 192.27 (1) When the track of a railway corporation crosses the track of any
6other railway corporation at grade, or when their tracks and right-of-way are
7adjacent, except in counties having a population of at least 150,000, the corporations
8shall, within 60 days after a written request of the office department or the council
9or board of the city, town or village within which the tracks so cross or are adjacent,
10make a track connection within such town, city or village to afford reasonable and
11proper facilities for the interchange of traffic between their respective lines for
12forwarding and delivering freight, and the expense thereof shall be borne equally by
13those corporations, unless otherwise ordered by the office department.
AB977, s. 54 14Section 54. 192.29 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,20,1915 192.29 (4) Highways; bell. No railroad train or locomotive shall run over any
16public traveled grade highway crossing outside of the limits of municipalities unless
17the engine bell shall be rung continuously from 1,320 feet before the crossing until
18the crossing is reached. But the office department may order that the ringing of the
19bell as required by this subsection shall be omitted at any crossing.
AB977, s. 55 20Section 55. 192.31 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,21,221 192.31 (1) (b) If the office department finds that the absence of a telltale would
22create an unreasonable risk of harm to the public or a railroad employee on a railroad
23not under the jurisdiction of the federal railroad administration, the office
24department may enter an order requiring the installation of a telltale. A telltale

1shall be ordered by the office department according to the hearing procedure
2provided under sub. (4).
AB977, s. 56 3Section 56. 192.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,21,54 192.31 (2) The office department may determine the materials for and the
5construction and placing of such telltales.
AB977, s. 57 6Section 57. 192.31 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,21,187 192.31 (4) Upon finding that any such structure will not imperil life or limb,
8and that the public interest requires or permits such structure to be constructed or
9reconstructed otherwise than as permitted by sub. (3), the office department may
10exempt such structure from such provision. Such findings shall be made only upon
11written application, setting forth fully the grounds therefor and shall be made only
12after public hearing held upon notice to all interested parties except that, if no
13objection is filed with the office department within 20 days of the notice, the office
14department may require the installation of a telltale without hearing. The findings
15and order requiring the installation of a telltale shall be in writing and contain
16complete provisions and requirements as to the vertical clearance to be maintained
17in such construction or reconstruction. Such structure shall be constructed or
18reconstructed only in compliance with such order.
AB977, s. 58 19Section 58. 192.31 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,21,2420 192.31 (5) Prior to July 1, in each year every corporation operating a railroad
21within the state shall file with the office department a verified statement showing
22the location of every such bridge or other structure over any of its tracks at a height
23of less than 23 feet above the top of rail, together with a statement showing whether
24or not the provisions of this section have been fully complied with.
AB977, s. 59 25Section 59. 192.324 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,22,16
1192.324 Railroad bridges to be safe for employees. Whenever a complaint
2is lodged with the office department by any person to the effect that a railroad bridge
3because of its style of construction does not have walks or railings and for that reason
4is dangerous to the life and limb of railroad employees and the safety of such
5employees requires the alteration so as to provide for such walks and railings of such
6bridge, the office department shall give notice to the party in interest, other than the
7complainant, of the filing of the complaint and furnish such party with a copy thereof,
8and order a hearing thereon, in the manner provided for hearings in s. 195.31. The
9office department may proceed in a similar manner in the absence of a complaint
10when, in the opinion of the office department, the safety of railroad employees
11requires the alteration of a railroad bridge. After the hearing, the office department
12shall determine what alteration, if any, of such bridge, shall be made. The expense
13of such alteration shall be borne by the railroad company. If an interested party
14objects to the department's order under this section and requests a hearing, the
15department shall refer the order to the division of hearings and appeals for review
16as provided in s. 195.325.
AB977, s. 60 17Section 60. 192.327 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,22,2018 192.327 (3) The office department shall make and enforce reasonable rules
19relating to motor vehicles used to transport workers to and from their places of
20employment or during the course of their employment.
AB977, s. 61 21Section 61. 192.327 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
AB977, s. 62 22Section 62. 192.327 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
AB977, s. 63 23Section 63. 192.327 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,23,224 192.327 (6) The office department may, in enforcing the rules, inspect any
25motor vehicle used to transport workers to and from their places of employment or

1during the course of their employment. Upon request of the office, the department
2shall direct its traffic officers to assist the office in those inspections.
AB977, s. 64 3Section 64. 192.327 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,23,84 192.327 (7) Whenever the office department finds that a motor vehicle used to
5transport workers to and from their places of employment or during the course of
6their employment violates any provision of the rules, the office department shall
7make, enter and serve upon the owner of the motor vehicle such order as may be
8necessary to protect the safety of workers transported in the motor vehicle.
AB977, s. 65 9Section 65. 192.33 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,23,1210 192.33 (5) The maintenance of cattle guards may be omitted by the railroad
11company with the written consent of the office department specifying the particular
12crossings.
AB977, s. 66 13Section 66. 192.34 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,23,23 14192.34 Fences; complaint of insufficient; hearing; order. Upon
15complaint to the division of hearings and appeals by the owner or occupant of any
16land contiguous to the right-of-way of any railroad that the railroad company
17operating the line has failed to construct or keep in good repair fences along its
18right-of-way opposite to the complainant's land as required under s. 192.33, the
19office division of hearings and appeals shall proceed on the complaint in the manner
20provided in s. 195.04 under ch. 227. If it shall appear that the complaint is well
21founded, the office division of hearings and appeals may order and direct the railroad
22company to repair the complained of fences so that the fences will be sufficient or to
23construct legal fences.
AB977, s. 67 24Section 67. 192.47 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,24,18
1192.47 Railroad police; oath; powers. Any railway company may, at its own
2expense, appoint and employ railroad police officers at the stations or other places
3on the line of its road within this state as it deems necessary for the protection of its
4property and the preservation of order on its premises and in and about its cars,
5depots, depot grounds, yards, buildings or other structures. Each police officer shall
6take an oath to support the constitution of the United States and claiming to be a
7citizen of the United States and shall file it with the office department. Each police
8officer shall, when on duty, wear a shield furnished by the company bearing the
9words "Railroad Police" and the name of the company. These police officers may
10arrest, with or without warrant, any person who in their presence commits upon the
11premises of the company or in or about its cars, depots, depot grounds, yards,
12buildings or other structures any offense against the laws of this state or the
13ordinances of any town, city or village, and shall also have the authority of sheriffs
14in regard to the arrest or apprehension of these offenders in or about the premises
15or appurtenances. In case of the arrest, by a railroad police officer, of any person
16without warrant the officer shall immediately take the offender before a judge
17having jurisdiction and make complaint against the offender. Every railway
18company shall be responsible for the acts of its police officers.
AB977, s. 68 19Section 68. 192.52 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,25,220 192.52 (3) No railroad company operating in this state shall remove its shops
21from the place where the same are now located to any other point within or without
22this state or permanently close any shops in this state without first having secured
23the consent and permission of the office an order for such removal from the division
24of hearings and appeals
, after due notice and public hearing, and in all other respects

1as provided for hearings in ch. 195 227. The office division of hearings and appeals
2shall render its decision within 30 days after such hearing.
AB977, s. 69 3Section 69. 192.52 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,25,84 192.52 (4) No railroad company operating in this state shall remove or transfer
5its terminals or permanently close any terminals in this state without the permission
6or consent of the office
an order for such removal, transfer or closing from the division
7of hearings and appeals
after due hearing had on the matter, in compliance with ch.
8195 227.
AB977, s. 70 9Section 70. 192.52 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,25,1910 192.52 (5) Before any railroad company operating in this state shall make any
11removal or transfer of shops or terminals or abandons the same, it shall file notice
12of intention so to do with the office division of hearings and appeals, and the office
13division of hearings and appeals shall have the power to investigate whether such
14proposed removal, transfer or abandonment, as the case may be, is in the public
15interest and is not unreasonable or unfair as to the employees of such railroad
16company. No such removal or transfer shall be made during such investigation, or
17thereafter, if the office division of hearings and appeals finds such removal, transfer
18or abandonment is not in the public interest or is unreasonable or unfair as to the
19employees of such railroad.
AB977, s. 71 20Section 71. 192.53 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,25,2521 192.53 (4) (a) Upon finding that any structure that is subject to the provisions
22of this section will not imperil life or limb, and that the public interest requires or
23permits the structure to be constructed or reconstructed otherwise than as permitted
24by the provisions of this section, the office department may exempt the structure
25from the provisions of this section.
AB977, s. 72
1Section 72. 192.53 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,26,122 192.53 (4) (b) The office department shall make the findings described in par.
3(a) only upon written application to it to exempt the construction or reconstruction
4of a structure from the requirements of this section, setting forth fully the grounds
5therefor, and only after public hearing held upon notice to all interested parties
6except that, if no objection is filed with the office department within 20 days of the
7notice, the office department may authorize the exemption without hearing. The
8office's department's findings and order granting the exemption shall be in writing
9and shall contain complete provisions and requirements as to the horizontal
10clearance to be maintained in the construction or reconstruction. The structure shall
11be constructed or reconstructed only in compliance with the office's department's
12order.
AB977, s. 73 13Section 73. 192.53 (5) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,26,1714 192.53 (5) (a) (intro.) Except as otherwise provided in this section and subject
15to the power of the office department to make exceptions to this section in a manner
16similar to the power given it in sub. (4), no railroad or shipper may do any of the
17following:
AB977, s. 74 18Section 74. 192.53 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,26,2219 192.53 (6) Any railroad or shipper to which this section applies, who violates
20any provision of this section or who fails, neglects or refuses to obey any lawful order
21made by the office department under this section, shall forfeit not less than $100 nor
22more than $200.
AB977, s. 75 23Section 75. 192.55 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,27,324 192.55 (5) Any corporation or person operating a railroad that shall fail to erect
25the telltales required by s. 192.31 for the space of 60 days after notice from the office

1department requiring such erection shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than
2$100, and each 20 days' delay thereafter in erecting such telltales shall be a separate
3offense.
AB977, s. 76 4Section 76. 192.56 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,27,95 192.56 (1) It is unlawful for any railroad company owning or operating any
6railroad in whole or in part in this state, to abandon any station in any town, village
7or city on its line of railroad, within this state, or to remove the depot therefrom, or
8to withdraw agency service therefrom, without first obtaining from the office division
9of hearings and appeals
an order authorizing such action.
AB977, s. 77 10Section 77. 192.56 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,27,1711 192.56 (2) At a station where agency service is provided the application to the
12office division of hearings and appeals for such authorizing order shall set forth the
13facts showing the necessity for such action by the railroad company, and if the office
14division of hearings and appeals finds that the application is sufficient
15presumptively to justify the order prayed for, it shall enter an order fixing the time
16and place of hearing on the application, which time shall not be less than 20 days
17after the posting provided for in sub. (3).
AB977, s. 78 18Section 78. 192.56 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,27,2119 192.56 (3) Notice of the time and place of the hearing and of the purpose thereof
20shall be given, by the office division of hearings and appeals, by posting the notice
21in 5 conspicuous places in the town or village.
AB977, s. 79 22Section 79. 192.56 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,28,223 192.56 (5) The hearing shall be held as other hearings before the office division
24of hearings and appeals
are held as far as applicable. The office division of hearings

1and appeals
may dismiss the application or may grant it in whole or in part and under
2such conditions as it may deem equitable.
AB977, s. 80 3Section 80. 192.56 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,28,154 192.56 (6) At a station where no agency service is provided, the application to
5the office division of hearings and appeals for such authorizing order shall set forth
6the facts showing the necessity for such action by the railroad company. Notice of
7proposed removal or abandonment shall be given by the office division of hearings
8and appeals
by posting notice in 5 conspicuous places in the town or village
9concerned; and if within 20 days after the posting of notice no objections in writing
10are filed with the office division of hearings and appeals by persons directly affected,
11an order authorizing the abandonment of the station may be issued by the office
12division of hearings and appeals. If such objections to the granting of the order are
13filed with the office division of hearings and appeals, the office division of hearings
14and appeals
shall proceed to hold a hearing in the matter as provided in subs. (4) and
15(5).
AB977, s. 81 16Section 81. 195.001 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB977,28,1817 195.001 (1r) "Division of hearings and appeals" means the division of hearings
18and appeals in the department of administration.
AB977, s. 82 19Section 82. 195.001 (2) of the statutes is repealed.
AB977, s. 83 20Section 83. 195.001 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
AB977,28,2121 195.001 (3) "Secretary" means the secretary of transportation.
AB977, s. 84 22Section 84. 195.03 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,28,24 23195.03 (title) Office Department; powers and duties, general
24enumeration.
AB977, s. 85 25Section 85. 195.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,29,3
1195.03 (1) Practice rules. The office department may take testimony and
2administer oaths and may promulgate rules to govern its proceedings and to regulate
3the mode and manner of all hearings. All hearings shall be open to the public.
AB977, s. 86 4Section 86. 195.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,29,75 195.03 (2) Office Department initiative. In any matter within its jurisdiction
6under ch. 192 or this chapter, the office department may initiate, investigate and
7order a hearing at its discretion upon such notice as it considers proper.
AB977, s. 87 8Section 87. 195.03 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,29,149 195.03 (7) Study railroad and water carrier business, demand information.
10The office department may inquire into the management of the business of all
11railroads and water carriers, and shall keep itself informed as to the manner in which
12the same is conducted, and may obtain from any railroad or water carrier all
13necessary information to enable the office department to perform the duties and
14carry out the objects for which it is responsible.
AB977, s. 88 15Section 88. 195.03 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,29,2416 195.03 (8) Questionnaires, answers compulsory. The office department shall
17prepare forms for the purpose of obtaining the information which it may deem
18necessary or useful to the proper exercise of its functions, which shall conform as
19nearly as practicable to the forms prescribed by the federal railroad administration,
20federal surface transportation board, or other applicable federal agency or authority,
21and shall furnish the forms to railroads and water carriers, and every railroad and
22water carrier receiving the forms shall cause the forms to be properly completed and
23verified under oath by its proper officer and returned to the office department within
24the time fixed by the office department.
AB977, s. 89 25Section 89. 195.03 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,30,8
1195.03 (9) Examine books and files of railroads and water carriers. The
2commissioner of railroads secretary or any person employed by the office department
3for that purpose shall, upon demand, have the right to inspect the books and papers
4of any railroad or water carrier and to examine under oath any officer, agent or
5employee of such railroad or water carrier in relation to its business and affairs;
6provided that any person other that than the commissioner of railroads secretary
7who makes such demand shall produce his or her authority under the hand and seal
8of the office secretary.
AB977, s. 90 9Section 90. 195.03 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,30,1510 195.03 (10) Production of records and files kept out of state. The office
11department may, by an order or subpoena to be served in the manner that a circuit
12court summons is served, require the production within this state, at such time and
13place as it may designate, of any books, papers or accounts kept by any railroad or
14water carrier without the state, or verified copies in lieu thereof, if the office
15department shall so order.
AB977, s. 91 16Section 91. 195.03 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,30,2317 195.03 (11) Uniform system of accounting. The office department may
18prescribe a uniform system of keeping and rendering accounts of all railroad and
19water carrier business transacted in this state, and the time within which railroads
20and water carriers shall adopt such system; provided that all forms of accounts which
21may be prescribed by the office department shall conform to any applicable
22requirement under 49 USC 11141 to 11164 or 49 CFR 1201 and, as nearly as
23practicable, to similar forms prescribed by federal authority.
AB977, s. 92 24Section 92. 195.03 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,31,3
1195.03 (12) Time for filing water carrier rate tariffs. The office department
2shall fix the time for filing water carrier schedules relative to the transportation of
3passengers and property and of any service in connection therewith.
AB977, s. 93 4Section 93. 195.03 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB977,31,65 195.03 (13) Schedule forms. The office department may prescribe the forms
6for water carrier schedules.
AB977, s. 94 7Section 94. 195.03 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:
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