Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/14/2014 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB239 | |
| HB240 | |
| HB241 | |
| HB242 | |
| HB234 | |
| HB210 | |
| HB378 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 239 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 240 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 241 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 242 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 234 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 210 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 378 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 75 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 220 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 378(TRA)
"An Act relating to motor vehicle registration;
relating to drivers' licenses; relating to instruction
permits; relating to commercial motor vehicles and
commercial motor carriers; and providing for an
effective date."
10:44:51 AM
REBECCA ROONEY, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, noted
that the bill had been crafted at the request of the
Department of Motor Vehicles. She provided a sponsor
statement:
HB 378 changes Alaska statutes to align them with the
updated Federal Motor Carriers Administration (FMCSA)
regulations. It will make the roads a safer place for
all Alaskans by allowing the Division of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) to refuse to register or to revoke a
registration for a motor carrier or commercial vehicle
that does not meet these federal safety standards.
If HB 378 is not passed this session Alaska will be
out of compliance with federal regulations. Non-
compliance could result in the federal government
decertifying Alaska's CDL program. The decertification
would jeopardize Alaska's federal highway funding. DOT
reports that based on 2014 apportionments, this could
mean a loss of up to $34M in federal dollars. In
addition to the loss of federal funds the DMV will not
be able to issue, renew or upgrade any CDL or permits.
HB 378 adds additional safety-related improvements to
the commercial permitting requirements to comply with
federal mandates, which include raising the age to
obtain an instruction permit for a commercial driver
from 17 to 18 years of age, and limiting the period of
validity to 180 days with the ability to renew the
commercial permit for a period of 180 days instead of
two years. A five year timeframe is added that will
allow a person to apply for an instructional permit
after they have been issued a certain class of
license.
A Commercial Driver License (CDL) permit will be
disqualified in the same manner as a commercial
license if the driver is operating out of service or
is convicted for crimes that include driving under the
influence, refusal to submit to a chemical test,
manslaughter, or negligent homicide resulting from
driving a motor vehicle or for the commission of a
felony using a motor vehicle. Texting while driving
will also be made a serious traffic violation by which
CDL operators could lose their license or permit for a
period of time.
Additionally, HB 378 contains clarifying language for
registration fees charged for vehicles over 10,000
pounds used for personal use and in an individual's
name. This clarification makes it clear that vehicles
with an empty weight over 10,000 pounds (except motor
homes used for personal use) will be charged the same
as commercial vehicles of the same weight.
10:47:38 AM
AMY ERICKSON, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES,
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, stated that the legislation
would allow DMV to refuse to register vehicles that had
been placed out-of-service by the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Association (FMCSA). Reasons for denial included:
· Unsatisfactory safety rating from the FMCSA
· Failure to pay levied FMCSA fees
· Motor carrier determined to be an imminent hazard
· Failure for a new entrant to obtain or schedule and
audit within 18 months
Ms. Erickson spoke to Section 8 of the bill, which allowed
a person to acquire an instruction permit for license in a
previously held class.
10:49:45 AM
AVES THOMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA TRUCKING
ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the legislation. He stated that the association
was a statewide association representing the interests of
nearly 200 companies in Alaska. The bill made technical
corrections to the CDL program required by the FMCSA on
certain commercial driver violations and the consequences
of those violations. These technical corrections bring the
Alaska DMV into compliance with federal regulations and
compliance is required to allow the CDL program to work. He
spoke to the subject of compliance with the feds on the CDL
program. Although the sanctions have never been applied by
FMCSA, there is always a first time. The consequences of
decertification of the CDL program are very severe.
Issuance of new CDL's would stop immediately and all CDL's
would be invalid upon their expiration date. This means
that a commercial vehicle driver could not drive
commercially in Alaska or any other state without getting a
CDL from another state. The federal highway dollars are
important but DMV must be able to issue valid CDL's.
Vice-Chair Fairclough CLOSED public testimony.
10:52:11 AM
AT EASE
10:53:07 AM
RECONVENED
CSHB 378(TRA) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.