HB 124-LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: COMM. DRIVERS  1:27:35 PM CHAIR MCCABE announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 124, "An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle drivers' license requirements; and providing for an effective date." 1:28:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE JULIE COLOUMBE, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, stated that HB 124 would repeal the requirement that a person hold a driver's license for one year before applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL). She said she considers HB 124 a "workforce bill," in that the bill helps people start their CDL training faster. 1:28:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE pointed out that the section that contains the one-year requirement also states: "or meets experience qualifications established by the department". She asked Representative Coloumbe if she has insight on that provision in statute. REPRESENTATIVE COLOUMBE deferred to her staff, Daniel Robbins. DANIEL ROBBINS, Staff, Representative Julie Coloumbe, on behalf of Representative Coloumbe, prime sponsor of HB 128, answered that there have been no other qualifications developed regarding experience. 1:30:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY raised concern with language barriers, specifically whether individuals coming from other countries understand English well enough to get an Alaska driver's license. REPRESENTATIVE COLOUMBE answered that language barriers are not addressed under HB 124. She shared that there are some language barriers, but people with such barriers use phone apps as translators. She said it would be up to the people giving the training as to whether the person could communicate clearly, and that if there is too much of a language barrier, the person would not be able to undergo the training. 1:31:52 PM MR. ROBBINS shared that since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he has had family members come to Alaska, and they are doing fine despite English not being their first language. He stated that the language barrier shouldn't be an issue. 1:32:25 PM CHAIR MCCABE referenced comment from the previous hearing of HB 124, in that the person must undergo four checkpoints, the first of which is attaining the driver's license, and that one of the first requirements of the license is that the person must be able to speak and understand enough English to read signs and follow police officer instructions. He said that HB 124 could aid in "filling the gaps" that are coming in the CDL and operator areas. CHAIR MCCABE opened public testimony on HB 124. 1:33:34 PM KATI CAPOZZI, President, Alaska Chamber, said that the Alaska Chamber ("the Chamber") is in support of House Bill 124. She said the Chamber was founded in 1953 and is Alaska's largest statewide business advocacy organization. She stated that the Chamber's mission is to promote a healthy business environment in Alaska. She reported that the Chamber has more than 700 members and represents businesses of all sizes and industries from across the state, representing 58,000 Alaska workers and $4.6 billion in wages. She shared that the Chamber has a formal policy position to support workforce development to increase the number of qualified employees needed to fill positions in resource industries, and that HB 124 would eliminate one of the many barriers to entry for individuals seeking a career in trucking and transportation. MS. CAPOZZI said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently implemented its entry level driver training (ELDT) program, which establishes "minimum training requirements for entry-level commercial motor vehicle operators." She stated that this program was a result of years of engagement with safety organizations, industry, and other stakeholders. She explained that ELDT provides a checklist of over 100 different skills, inspection, and knowledge requirements an applicant must prove to be proficient in before they are allowed to test for a CDL. In considering these new requirements, she stated, the requirement of holding of a regular driver's license for a calendar year is a redundant barrier to entry into the transportation industry. She relayed that the Chamber members know firsthand how vital trained and licensed CDL drivers are to the Alaska economy, not only in the resource industry, but across all industry sectors that rely on transportation of goods and services. She reiterated that the Chamber supports HB 124, in that it is straightforward and good for business, and she urged passage of the bill. 1:36:15 PM TETYANA ROBBINS, CEO, Ukraine Relief Program, said that since May 2022, the Ukraine Relief Program has provided transportation and support to over 1,000 Ukrainians that have fled the war. She stated that Ukrainian refugees are coming to Alaska because "they are trying to stay alive." She said that an important phase of the operation is employment, and that, in reviewing the professional skills of the refugees coming to Alaska, the program discovered that many of the refugees have experience driving busses and heavy equipment. She said there was excitement in seeing 500 open positions available for CDL licensed drivers; however, Alaska's statute is out of sync with federal law, forcing the Ukrainians to wait a year before being able to apply for a CDL. She said she'd hate to see such professionals leave the state or switch industries. She stated that passage of HB 124 would help fill the vacancies in the transportation industry and help new arrivals to Alaska work in their chosen field. 1:38:41 PM CHAIR MCCABE, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 124. 1:39:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to report HB 124 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 124 was reported out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.