1998-02-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 2424
SB 280                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 280 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY                           
REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                             
                                                                               
An Act relating to the regulation of commercial vehicles;                     
the temporary registration of out-of-state commercial                          
vehicles; and providing for an effective date.                                 
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Transportation and Finance         
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Administration. Fiscal     
note published today from Department of Transportation and Public              
Facilities.                                                                    
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated February 4:                                 
                                                                               
                                                                               

1998-02-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 2425
SB 280                                                                       
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
One key to highway safety in Alaska is a responsible commercial motor          
vehicle inspection and registration program. This bill I transmit today        
amends the state's inspection program to make it more practical, less          
costly, and address concerns raised last year when I vetoed a flawed bill      
on this program. The bill also levels the playing field between in-state and   
out-of-state commercial motor vehicle registration fees. The resulting         
increased fees to out-of-state truckers are in line with fees charged          
elsewhere on the continent, and will provide the necessary funds to better     
operate the state's weigh stations, which are vital to our highway safety.     
                                                                               
In terms of the commercial motor vehicle safety inspection, the bill           
removes from statute various unnecessary program provisions and allows         
the commissioner of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities     
to adopt appropriate regulations to keep the program current and workable.     
A new provision is the requirement a driver carry proof of insurance.          
These sections of the bill correct drafting problems in last year's House      
Bill 83, which I vetoed because it inadvertently repealed the state's          
authority to fully implement an inspection program. The language in this       
bill achieves the original intent of last year's HB 83  to improve the         
commercial motor vehicle inspection program.                                   
                                                                               
The bill adjusts the state's commercial motor vehicle registration fees to     
end the enormous and unjustified advantage out-of-state truckers now have      
over in-state operators. The bill establishes temporary registration of out-of 
state commercial vehicles that enter Alaska for brief periods and sets the     
fees at levels within the range of those charged Alaska truckers in the        
western United States and Canada. The fees are intended to cover some          
of the state's costs related to commercial vehicles including operating        
weigh stations, administering the commercial vehicle safety program, and       
highway construction and maintenance programs.                                 
                                                                               
                                                                               

1998-02-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 2426
SB 280                                                                       
This bill offers Alaska truckers some equity within their industry while       
ensuring all Alaskans greater safety on our highways. I urge your prompt       
consideration and passage of this bill.                                        
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Tony Knowles                                                             
						Governor