Public utilities; Underground Damage Prevention Program; prioritization of, liability for incomplete design or survey locates provided

This bill strengthens Alabama's Underground Damage Prevention Program by requiring utility operators to prioritize incomplete locate requests and holding them financially responsible for project delays. It mandates that operators finish any pending locate requests within 20 days before handling new ones, and imposes liability for costs if a request remains incomplete for 30 days or more. The legislation also removes the option for operators to respond to locate requests by simply providing facility descriptions or allowing record inspections, instead requiring physical marking of underground facilities. Additionally, it prohibits contract locators from closing locate requests and requires operators to verify on-site that facilities have been marked before a request can be closed. These changes directly affect utility companies, construction project owners, and design or surveying professionals who use the One-Call Notification System.