An Act relative to liquid or gas flammable material spills on public ways

This bill imposes civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation for commercial drivers or companies that spill flammable materials (like gasoline or oil) onto public ways or into water sources. It requires companies delivering such materials to provide financial guarantees (surety bonds) to cover cleanup costs exceeding 100 gallons, with funds paid to the affected municipality. The bill also mandates a study by the Public Safety Secretary into how driver pay structures (hourly vs. per load), speed, and spill impacts affect road safety, environmental damage, and prevention methods. The study must report findings to the legislature within one year, focusing on concrete data about spill causes and costs. This directly affects commercial transportation companies, municipalities handling spill cleanups, and public safety authorities.