Legislature(2013 - 2014)BUTROVICH 205
03/21/2013 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB56 | |
| HB46 | |
| SB13 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 46 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 56 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 46-WAIVE CDL SKILL TEST FOR CERTAIN VETERANS
1:48:38 PM
CHAIR EGAN brought the meeting back to order and announced the
hearing of HB 46.
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, sponsor of HB 46, introduced the
bill. He said Alaskans who have honed their driving skills in
service to our country in uniform deserve to have their
experience validated and respected in the civilian world. HB 46
helps recent Alaskan veterans get jobs and helps Alaska
businesses get qualified drivers by acknowledging military
drivers already have safe driving skills.
He said that about 63,000 service members had military jobs
involving truck driving in most recent years and it is one of
the top specialties in the armed services. Many of the
industries in Alaska - tourism, construction, oil field work,
retail - require drivers to have a commercial driver's license
(CDL). Recent federal law allows states to waive the road skills
test for the CDL if military drivers have recent driving
experience and a clean driving record. They, of course, must
still pass the knowledge test, the division test and the
physical test.
The federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is encouraging
states to allow such waivers. As of January 9, 2013, 34 states
have waived the test for military and 10 other states are
working on such waivers and 7 do not current accept the waivers.
HB 46 directs the Department of Administration to adopt
regulations in accordance with the federal standards to allow
the State of Alaska to issue such waivers. HB 46 means jobs for
Alaska veterans and qualified drivers for Alaska businesses.
CHAIR EGAN opened public testimony.
1:51:14 PM
MARC SAN SOUCI, Regional Liaison, U.S. Department of Defense,
expressed support for HB 46. He said in the past couple of years
25 states had enacted new laws to help grant our veterans credit
towards licensing in occupations such as the CDL. The heavy and
tractor trailer driving career field in the military is in the
top ten of all occupations specialties in all of the military
and the second highest occupation in the Army and the Marines.
The Department of Labor and Occupational Network online
partnership forecasts the truck driving field as one of the
brightest outlook fields with a faster than average job growth
rate of 20-28 percent over the next 10 years.
He also pointed out that the military training has already been
paid for by our tax dollars. There will be almost 1 million new
veterans by 2016.
1:53:23 PM
LAWRENCE BETHEL, Pacific Region President, Association U.S.
Army, supported HB 46. Thirty-four other states have provided
this waiver to the military. Most typically they have
substituted two years of commercial motor vehicle safe driving
in the military for the skills test and apply this rule up to 90
days after separation from active duty for Guard Reserve or the
Coast Guard.
He said the military in Alaska separates anywhere from 250-300
veterans per month, mostly at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson
(JBER). Typically 10 to 20 percent of veterans intend to remain
in Alaska. Their reasons include veteran friendly residents and
benefits, great job opportunities, great fishing and winter fun,
and a family friendly environment with good schools, low crime
and a clean environment. About 22 of those JBER soldiers per
month have achieved their Army driver's badge and many of them
are combat soldiers.
In general, Alaska law requires CDLs on operating vehicles in
excess of 2,600 pounds and those transporting hazardous
materials or when operating vehicles with 16 or more passengers.
Waiver of the CDL road test for qualifying military in Alaska
will assist them in numerous ways. It offers well-paid
employment in a growing career field across the country. Service
members will be able to feel secure in their career choice. This
career in Alaska pays well with a median average hourly rate of
$24.23, per US Department of Labor 2011 figures. It is also an
attractive part-time work option for military who are completing
degrees or certifications.
Further, this legislation honors veterans' selfless service to
the country and their considerable experience operating and
maintaining a variety of complex vehicles from 13-ton light
transports to fuel trucks on highways and diesels trucks with
highly technical equipment, some of which is valued in excess of
$2 million. Most veterans already have considerable driving
experience over remote roads to and from ranges, missile defense
sites and exercise or deployments involving ports, runways and
railroads. Many service members have the army drivers' badge.
This badge requires a government driver's license and 8,000
miles of 12-month of accident-free driving with no traffic
violations as well as approval by a lieutenant colonel or above.
The road test waiver provides a faster less-expensive route to
employment and decreases transition stress for the family. It
requires testing in a large vehicle, which soldiers do not have,
or enrollment in a 4-hour $500 or a $1,000 10-hour commercial
driving program. Current training programs have a wait list.
Alaskan employers greatly benefit from military hires who have
this extensive experience operating in underdeveloped and
hostile locations. In addition, service members are self-
disciplined, sensitized to continue to operate as a team with a
safety focus, think on their feet and apply good judgment, and
understand corporate policy's chain of command and the
importance of good communication.
He summarized that Alaska benefits by retaining more veterans
and adding them to the workforce as well as maintaining its
reputation as one of the most supportive states for veterans.
This legislation is a win/win for all parties. He concluded that
Alaska veterans are 16.2 percent of the state's population,
number one in the country per capita. With about 722,000
residents in 2011 that means we have about 117,000 residents
that are veterans.
1:58:58 PM
SENATOR DYSON noted that Representative Saddler represents Eagle
River with the highest number of military in the state-north of
25 percent. He shares the honor of representing that district
and they are amongst the best citizens in the state to
represent. He thanked Mr. Bethel for his work.
2:00:05 PM
AVES THOMPSON, Executive Director, Alaska Trucking Association,
said the association represents nearly 200 companies that
support HB 46. As an industry they welcome returning veterans
and appreciate this opportunity to do something in their
support. These men and women have had some of the best truck
driver training available and will also have a good deal of
recent hands-on experience in driving big rigs. With the proper
certifications as to a veteran's experience the association
supported waiving the skills test for the issuance of a CDL. He
was a veteran himself and was proud to support HB 46.
2:01:26 PM
AMY ERICKSON, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department
of Administration, testified in support of HB 46 saying they
would have to fashion regulations to allow this to happen.
SENATOR DYSON moved to report HB 46 from committee to the next
committee of referral with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, the motion
carried.
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