HOUSE BILL NO. 129
INTRODUCED BY J. STOVALL
AN ACT REVISING THE LAWS PERTAINING TO HIGHWAY HAZARDS, AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES, AND EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL TOW TRUCKS; PROVIDING LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AUTHORITIES WITH IMMUNITY; DEFINING THE TERM "INCIDENT COMMANDER"; PROVIDING CERTAIN PERSONS IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITIES ARISING FROM A MOTORIST VIOLATING PROVISIONS REGARDING SLOWING DOWN AT THE SCENE OF A HIGHWAY HAZARD; PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR VIOLATING HIGHWAY WARNING SIGNS POSTED AT A HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 10-3-111, 10-3-1203, 10-3-1216, 10-3-1217, 61-9-402, AND 61-9-416, MCA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 10-3-111, MCA, is amended to read:
"10-3-111. Personnel immune from liability. (1) Neither the The state, nor any a political subdivision of the state nor,
or the agents or representatives of the state or any a political subdivision of the state are not liable for personal injury or
property damage sustained by any a person appointed or acting as a volunteer civilian defense worker or member of any an
agency engaged in civilian defense activity during an incident, disaster, or emergency. This section does not affect the right
of any a person to receive benefits or compensation to which the person might otherwise be entitled under the workers'
compensation law or any a pension law or any an act of congress.
(2) Neither the The state nor any or a political subdivision of the state nor or, except in cases of willful misconduct,
gross negligence, or bad faith, the employees, agents, or representatives of the state or any a political subdivision of the
state nor any or a volunteer or auxiliary civilian defense worker or member of any an agency engaged in civilian defense
activity during an incident, disaster, or emergency nor or the owners of facilities used for civil defense shelters, pursuant to
a fallout shelter license or privilege agreement and while complying with or reasonably attempting to comply with parts 1
through 4 or 12 of this chapter or any an order or rule promulgated under the provisions of parts 1 through 4 or 12 of this
chapter or pursuant to any an ordinance relating to blackout or other precautionary measures enacted by any a political
subdivisions subdivision of the state, are not liable for the death of or injury to persons or for damage to property as a result
of any such activity specified in this subsection."
Section 2. Section 10-3-1203, MCA, is amended to read:
"10-3-1203. Definitions. As used in this part, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Commission" means the state emergency response commission.
(2) "Division" means the division of disaster and emergency services in the department of military affairs.
(3) "Duration of response" means a period of time beginning when a an emergency responder is requested by the
appropriate authority to respond to an incident and ending when the responder is released from the incident by the incident
commander and returned to the emergency responder's place of residence by the most direct route and includes the time
required to replace and return all materials used for the incident to the same or similar condition and state of readiness as
before the response.
(4) "Hazardous material" means a hazardous substance, a hazardous or deleterious substance as defined in 75-10-701, radioactive material, or a combination of a hazardous substance, a hazardous or deleterious substance, and radioactive material.
(5) "Hazardous material incident response team" means an organized group of trained response personnel, operating under an emergency response plan and appropriate standard operating procedures, that is expected to perform work to control an actual release or threatened release of hazardous material requiring close approach to the material, to respond to releases or threatened releases of hazardous material for the purpose of control or stabilization of the incident, and to provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions.
(6) (a) "Hazardous substance" means flammable solids, semisolids, liquids, or gases; poisons; explosives; corrosives; compressed gases; reactive or toxic chemicals; irritants; or biological agents.
(b) The term does not include radioactive material.
(7) "Incident" means an event involving the release or threat of release involving hazardous material that may cause injury to persons, the environment, or property.
(8) "Incident commander" means the person who is designated in the local emergency operations plan.
(8)(9) "Local emergency operations plan" means the local and interjurisdictional disaster and emergency plan developed
pursuant to 10-3-401.
(9)(10) "Local emergency response authority" means the person or persons agency designated by the city, county, or or
commission to be responsible for the management of an incident at the local level.
(10)(11) "Orphaned hazardous material" means hazardous material of which the owner cannot be identified.
(11)(12) "Plan" means the Montana incident management and hazardous material response support plan.
(12)(13) (a) "Radioactive material" means any material or combination of material that spontaneously emits ionizing
radiation.
(b) The term does not include material in which the specific activity is not greater than 0.002 microcuries per gram of material unless the material is determined to be radioactive by the U.S. environmental protection agency or the U.S. occupational safety and health administration.
(13)(14) "State hazardous material incident response team" means persons who are designated as state employees by the
commission while they are engaged in activities as provided for in 10-3-1204 and may include members of the commission
and local and state government responders.
(14)(15) "Threat of release" or "threatened release" means an indication of the possibility of the release of a hazardous
material into the environment."
Section 3. Section 10-3-1216, MCA, is amended to read:
"10-3-1216. Cost recovery and civil remedies. (1) Cost recovery is the duty of the city or county having authority where an incident occurred.
(2) The commission shall ensure the recovery of state expenditures according to the plan.
(3) A person responsible for an incident is liable for attorney fees and costs of the commission incurred in recovering costs associated with responding to an incident.
(4) The remedy for the recovery of emergency response costs identified in this part is in addition to any other remedy for recovery of the costs provided by applicable federal or state law.
(5) Any person who receives compensation for the emergency response costs pursuant to any other federal or state law is precluded from recovering compensation for those costs pursuant to this chapter.
(6) Except for the commission, and the state hazardous material incident response team, and the local emergency
response authority, this part does not otherwise affect or modify in any way the obligations or liability of any person under
any other provision of state or federal law, including common law, for damages, injury, or loss resulting from the release or
threatened release of any hazardous material or for remedial action or the costs of remedial action for a release or threatened
release.
(7) Any person who is not a liable party under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq., as amended, or the Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act, Title 75, chapter 10, part 7, and who renders assistance in response to an emergency situation associated with an incident may file a civil action against the responsible party for recoverable costs that have not been reimbursed by the state.
(8) Recoveries by the state for reimbursed costs under this section must be deposited in the environmental contingency account to offset amounts paid as reimbursement.
(9) (a) In the event of orphaned hazardous material or the inability of the state to recover the full cost associated with an incident and the cost of collection described in this section, the state shall recover from the city or county having authority where the incident occurred an amount equal to 25% of the total cost identified pursuant to this part.
(b) When the hazardous material incident occurs in or involves multiple jurisdictions, the collectible amount must be equally divided among the jurisdictions."
Section 4. Section 10-3-1217, MCA, is amended to read:
"10-3-1217. Liability of persons and response team members rendering assistance. The state or a political
subdivision of the state, the commission, the local emergency response authority, and the state hazardous material incident
response team or, except for willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith, an employee, representative, or agent of the
state or a political subdivision of the state, the commission, the local emergency response authority, and the state hazardous
material incident response team are is not liable under this part for injuries, costs, damages, expenses, or other liabilities
resulting from the release or threatened release or remedial action resulting from the release or threatened release of a
hazardous material. The immunity includes but is not limited to indemnification, contribution, or third-party claims for
wrongful death, personal injury, illness, loss or damages to property, or economic loss. A person becomes a member of the
state hazardous material incident response team when the person is contacted, dispatched, or requested for response
regardless of the person's location."
Section 5. Section 61-9-402, MCA, is amended to read:
"61-9-402. Audible and visual signals on police, and emergency vehicles, and and on-scene command vehicles --
immunity. (1) A police vehicle must be equipped with a siren capable of giving an audible signal and may be equipped
with alternately flashing or rotating red or blue lights as specified in this section. The use of signal equipment as described
in this section imposes upon the drivers of other vehicles the obligation to yield right-of-way or to stop and to proceed past
the signal or light only with caution and at a speed that is no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions
existing at the point of operation.
(2) An authorized emergency vehicle must be equipped:
(a) with a siren and an alternately flashing or rotating red light as specified in this section; and
(b) with signal lamps mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable that are capable of displaying to the front two alternately flashing red lights located at the same level and to the rear two alternately flashing red lights located at the same level. These lights must have sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
(3) A bus used for the transportation of school children must be equipped with signal lamps mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, displaying to the front two red and two amber alternating flashing lights and to the rear two red and two amber alternating flashing lights. These lights must have sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight. The warning lights must be as prescribed by the board of public education and approved by the department.
(4) A police vehicle and an authorized emergency vehicle may, and an emergency service vehicle must, be equipped with alternately flashing or rotating amber lights as specified in this section.
(a) The use of signal equipment as described in this section imposes upon the drivers of other vehicles the obligation to yield right-of-way or to stop and to proceed past the signal or light only with caution and at a speed that is no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing at the point of operation subject to the provisions of 61-8-209 and 61-8-303.
(b) An employee, agent, or representative of the state or a political subdivision of the state or of a fire department who is operating a police vehicle, an authorized emergency vehicle, or an emergency service vehicle and using signal equipment in rendering assistance at a highway crash scene or in response to any other hazard on the roadway that presents an immediate hazard or an emergency or life-threatening situation is not liable, except for willful misconduct, bad faith, or gross negligence, for injuries, costs, damages, expenses, or other liabilities resulting from a motorist operating a vehicle in violation of subsection (4)(a).
(5) Blue, red, and amber lights required in this section must be mounted as high as and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and capable of displaying to the front two alternately flashing lights of the specified color located at the same level and to the rear two alternately flashing lights of the specified color located at the same level or one rotating light of the specified color, mounted as high as is practicable and visible from both the front and the rear. These lights must have sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight. Except as provided in 61-9-204(6), only police vehicles as defined in 61-1-118 may display blue lights, lenses, or globes.
(6) A police car and authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a flashing signal lamp that is green in color, visible from 360 degrees, and attached to the exterior roof of the vehicle for purposes of designation as the on-scene command and control vehicle in an emergency or disaster. The green light must have sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight. Only the on-scene command and control vehicle may display green lights, lenses, or globes.
(7) Only a police vehicle or an authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with the means to flash or alternate its headlamps or its backup lights.
(8) A violation of 61-9-402(4)(a) is considered reckless endangerment of highway workers, as provided in 61-8-315, and is punishable as provided in 61-8-715(2)."
Section 6. Section 61-9-416, MCA, is amended to read:
"61-9-416. Commercial tow truck definition -- requirements. (1) "Commercial tow truck" means a motor vehicle operating for compensation that is equipped with specialized equipment designed and intended for towing or the recovery of wrecked, disabled, or abandoned vehicles or other objects creating a hazard on the public roadways. A commercial tow truck must be equipped with:
(a) not less than two red flares, two red lanterns, or two warning lights or reflectors. The reflectors must be of a type approved by the department.
(b) at least two highway warning signs of a uniform type, with dimensions of 3 x 3 feet, lettering 5 inches high, and
reflectorized orange background and black border, as prescribed by the department. The signs must be designed to be
visible both day and night. The warning signs must bear the words "wreck ahead", "tow truck ahead", or "wrecker ahead",
as prescribed by the department as provided in [section 7].
(c) a dry chemical fire extinguisher of at least 5 pound capacity or an equivalent alternative type of fire extinguisher, approved by the department;
(d) a lamp emitting a flashing red or amber light meeting the requirements of 61-9-402(5), or both a red and amber light, mounted on top of the cab of the tow truck or on the top of the crane or hoist if the light can be seen from the front of the tow truck. The light from the lamp must be visible for a distance of 1,000 feet under normal atmospheric conditions and must be mounted so that it can be securely fastened with the lens of the lamp facing the rear of the tow truck upon which it is mounted. When standing at the location from which the disabled vehicle is to be towed, the operator of the tow truck may unfasten the red light and place it in a position considered advisable to warn approaching drivers. When the disabled vehicle is ready for towing, the red light must be turned to the rear of the tow truck upon which it is mounted and securely locked in this position. Additional red or amber lights of an approved type may be displayed at either side or both sides of the tow truck during the period of preparation at the location from which the disabled vehicle is to be towed.
(e) one or more brooms, and the operator of the tow truck engaged to remove a disabled vehicle from the scene of an accident shall remove all glass and debris deposited upon the roadway by the disabled vehicle that is to be towed;
(f) a shovel, and whenever practical, the tow truck operator engaged to remove a disabled vehicle shall spread dirt upon that portion of the roadway where oil or grease has been deposited by the disabled vehicle; and
(g) a portable electrical extension cord or other device for use in displaying stop, turn, and taillamps on the rear of the disabled vehicle. The length of the extension cord may not be less than the length of the combined vehicles. When a disabled vehicle is towed, the tow truck operator shall provide for the rear light that is capable of displaying a stop signal, turn signal, and taillamps by means of the extension cord or other device referred to in this subsection.
(2) The operator of a commercial tow truck used for the purpose of rendering assistance to other vehicles shall, when
the rendering of assistance necessitates the obstruction of a portion of the roadway, place a highway warning sign as
required in subsection (1)(b):
(a) in an area in which the posted speed limit is 45 miles an hour or less, not less than 450 feet in advance of the
disabled vehicle and an equal distance to the rear of the disabled vehicle; and
(b) in an area in which the posted speed limit is more than 45 miles an hour or no speed limit is posted, 600 feet in
advance of the disabled vehicle, except on a divided highway where the disabled vehicle does not cause disruption of traffic
traveling on the opposite side of the divided highway, and an equal distance to the rear of the disabled vehicle.
(3) A local government unit may adopt an ordinance exempting a commercial tow truck operator from the requirements
of subsection (2) within the limits of an incorporated city or town.
(4) When a motor vehicle is disabled on the highway during the hours of darkness, the tow truck operator called to
render assistance shall immediately upon arrival place warning signs upon the highway as prescribed in this section and
shall also place not less than one red flare, red lantern, or warning light or reflector in close proximity to each warning sign.
(5) [section 7].
(3) The owner or operator of a commercial tow truck who complies with the requirements of 61-8-906 and 61-8-907 and this section may stop or park the tow truck upon a highway for the purpose of rendering assistance to a disabled vehicle, notwithstanding other provisions of this code.
(4) A commercial tow truck company that is in compliance with [section 7] and that is operating an emergency service vehicle and using signal equipment in rendering assistance at a highway crash scene or in response to any other hazard on the roadway that presents an immediate hazard or an emergency or life-threatening situation is not liable, except for willful misconduct, bad faith, or gross negligence, for injuries, costs, damages, expenses, or other liabilities resulting from a motorist operating a vehicle in violation of 61-9-402(4)."
Section 7. Use of warning signs, flares, reflectors, lanterns, flag persons. (1) The operator of a commercial tow truck, in compliance with the requirements of 61-8-906 and 61-8-907, shall, when rendering assistance at a hazard on the highway that necessitates the obstruction of a portion or all of the roadway, place at least two warning signs as required in this section as soon as is practicable under the circumstances. Flag persons and cones may be used to augment the warning signs.
(2) Highway warning signs must be of a uniform type, with dimensions of 3 x 3 feet, lettering 5 inches high, and reflectorized orange background and black border, as prescribed by the department. The signs must be designed to be visible both day and night. The warning signs must bear the words "hazard ahead", "lane closed ahead", "road closed ahead", "wreck ahead", "tow truck ahead", or "wrecker ahead", as prescribed by the department.
(3) The operator of a commercial tow truck used for the purpose of rendering assistance at a hazard on the highway that necessitates the obstruction of a portion of the roadway shall place a highway warning sign as required in subsection (2):
(a) in an area in which the posted speed limit is 45 miles an hour or less, not less than 600 feet in advance of the hazard and an equal distance to the rear of the hazard; and
(b) in an area in which the posted speed limit is more than 45 miles an hour or no speed limit is posted, 1,000 feet in advance of the hazard, except on a divided highway where the hazard does not cause disruption of traffic traveling on the opposite side of the divided highway, and an equal distance to the rear of the hazard.
(4) A local government unit may adopt an ordinance exempting an operator of a commercial tow truck from the requirements of subsection (2) within the limits of an incorporated city or town.
(5) When a hazard exists on the highway during the hours of darkness, the operator of a commercial tow truck called to render assistance shall place warning signs upon the highway as prescribed in this section and shall also place at least one red flare, red lantern, or warning light or reflector in close proximity to each warning sign.
(6) A violation of warning signs placed as provided in subsection (3) is considered reckless endangerment of highway workers, as provided in 61-8-315, and is punishable as provided in 61-8-715(2).
Section 8. Codification instruction. [Section 7] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 61, chapter 9, part 4, and the provisions of Title 61, chapter 9, part 4, apply to [section 7].
- END -
Latest Version of HB 129 (HB0129.ENR)
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