The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Class I" means a railroad carrier designated as a class I railroad by the United States surface transportation board and its subsidiaries or is owned and operated by entities whose combined total railroad operational ownership and controlling interest meets the United States surface transportation board designation as a class I railroad carrier.

(2) "Class III" means a railroad carrier designated as a class III railroad by the United States surface transportation board.

(3) "Commission" means the utilities and transportation commission created in chapter 80.01 RCW.

(4) "Crewmember" means a railroad operating craft employee who has been trained and meets the requirements and qualifications as determined by the federal railroad administration for a railroad operating service employee.

(5) "Other railroad carrier" means a railroad carrier that is not a class I carrier.

(6) "Railroad carrier" means a carrier of persons or property upon vehicles, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails, the route of which is principally outside incorporated cities and towns. "Railroad carrier" includes any officers and agents of the railroad carrier.

Finding—2020 c 170: "The legislature finds that adequate personnel are critical to ensuring railroad operational safety, security, and in the event of a hazardous material incident, support of first responder activities, as well as in the interest of the safety of passengers and the general public. Therefore, the legislature declares that this act regulating minimum railroad employee staffing to reduce risk to localities constitutes an exercise of the state's police power to protect and promote the health, safety, security, and welfare of the residents of the state by reducing the risk exposure to local communities and protecting environmentally sensitive and/or pristine lands and waterways." [ 2020 c 170 s 1.]