SB 123-LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: COMM. DRIVERS  2:05:58 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 123 "An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle drivers' license requirements; and providing for an effective date." 2:06:47 PM SENATOR JAMES KAUFMAN, District F, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 123, introduced the legislation paraphrased the following sponsor statement: [Original punctuation provided.] Senate Bill 123 repeals the requirement in AS 28.33.100(a)(2) that requires applicants for a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to hold a regular Alaska driver's license for at least one year before they can begin the process of obtaining a CDL. This requirement was enacted in 1985 before state and federal regulators modernized the training and licensing standards for CDLs. Today, an individual seeking a CDL has an extensive training and testing process to go through to ensure they are ready to safely drive commercial vehicles. On the state level, a prospective commercial driver must pass a written test at the DMV to obtain a CDL Learners Permit and then a driving test to obtain their full license. Beginning in February 2022, federally mandated Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements must also be met during the CDL Learner's Permit stage. ELDT requires comprehensive theory testing and a driving evaluation process to ensure that CDL applicants possess the necessary skills and knowledge to operate commercial vehicles safely and efficiently. With these new safety and training standards, the one-year regular driver's license requirement now only serves as a barrier to workforce development. The Alaska Trucking Association estimates that Alaska is about 500 truck drivers short, presenting a risk both to food security and major new development projects in industries like construction, mining, oil and gas, etc. For young people in urban areas, getting a driver's license at 16 is common. However, for people coming from rural communities, a growing number of urban youth waiting to get their license, and newcomers to the county, the year-long wait to start the licensing process often prevents the trucking industry from being a viable career option. Repealing the one-year regular driver's license requirement aligns Alaska's CDL requirements with modern federal standards and removes a barrier to a workforce that, although relatively small, is ready and willing. With the passage of SB 123, Alaska will better be able to meet our commercial vehicle driver needs and empower Alaskans to pursue meaningful employment critical to our state. 2:09:33 PM SENATOR DUNBAR asked if there was invited testimony. CHAIR BJORKMAN answered yes. 2:09:51 PM EMMA TORKELSON, Staff, Senator James Kaufman, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the following sectional analysis for SB 123: [Original punctuation provided.] Sectional Analysis for SB 123, Version A  "An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle drivers'  license requirements; and providing for an effective  date"  Sec 1. Amends AS 28.33.100(a) to remove subsection (2) which requires an applicant for a Commercial Driver's License to have held a regular driver's license for at least one year before beginning the CDL certification process. Sec 2. Sets January 20, 2024, effective date. 2:11:36 PM SENATOR DUNBAR asked why the effective date wasn't sooner than January 20, 2024. 2:12:18 PM MS. TORKELSON replied that this language was modeled on the companion bill in the House. She agreed that the date should be sooner and noted that the committee could make that change. 2:13:22 PM JOE MICHEL, Executive Director, Alaska Trucking Association, Anchorage, Alaska, gave invited testimony in support of SB 123. He said that the Alaska Trucking Association fully supports this bill. It will eliminate one of the many barriers to embarking on a career in the trucking and transportation industry. In February 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented an entry-level driver training program and established the minimum training requirements for entry-level motor vehicle operators. This program came after years of engagement with safety organizations, industry leaders, and stakeholders. There is a checklist of well over a hundred different skills, inspection, and knowledge requirements that applicants must prove themselves proficient in before they are allowed to test for a CDL. The association found the one-year requirement redundant. Insurance companies are one of the biggest regulators of trucking and safety scores, and records dictate whether one can operate on the roads or not. 2:15:53 PM JOEY CRUM, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Industrial Training (NIT), Palmer, Alaska, gave invited testimony in support of SB 123. He stated that Northern Industrial Training trains drivers statewide. This bill removes barriers to entry, especially those in rural Alaska allowing more workers to choose this career path. Since the new regulations passed a year ago, the current statute has been rendered moot. The process to obtain a CDL now requires a person to pass a Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) written exam and a Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) physical to be issued a commercial learner's permit. After the permit is issued, they must practice written exams proctored by a federally registered training provider, and pass practical exams and a performance test approved by the DMV or an approved third party. He said it is important to note that vehicles such as 16-passenger vans or pick-ups hauling highly hazardous materials require CDLs. He said the bill needs to pass to remove unnecessary barriers to gainful employment. 2:19:33 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 123. 2:20:14 PM At ease. 2:20:46 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting. He stated there were technical issues with the phone lines. He invited the public to email written testimony to slac@akleg.gov. 2:21:37 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony and held SB 123 in committee.