HB 280-COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES:REGULATIONS    AVES THOMPSON, Director of the Division of Measurement Standards & Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOTPF), said his division is responsible for: commercial vehicle size, weight and safety enforcement; and commercial vehicle operating credentials; and for enforcing and maintaining standards for weights and measures used in commerce in Alaska. The key elements of the commercial vehicle safety program include the fixed weight station and mobile commercial vehicle enforcement. Commercial vehicle enforcement officers conduct driver vehicle safety inspections, enforce size and weight regulations and inspect hazardous materials that are transported. Beginning in FY 1998, the division was consolidated to DOTPF to provide more convenient and efficient program management. Although largely successful, the authority to promulgate regulation for driver vehicle safety requirements and hazardous materials transport wasn't transferred at that time and still resides in the Department of Public Safety. HB 280 transfers that authority to DOTPF and completes the consolidation. Except for matters that relate to drivers of commercial motor vehicles, the bill gives the authority to adopt regulations necessary to avoid withholding of federal highway money to DOTPF. The regulations address equipment standards, working conditions for drivers and vehicle inspection standards. The hazardous materials transport regulations deal with notification, movement, labeling and documentation of the same. HB 280 also sets a prohibition against operating a commercial motor vehicle after it is placed out of service under a regulation adopted under Title 19. Other sections provide for changes to the bill schedule and allow for a transition period for the existing regulation to continue until the new regulations are adopted. Federal motor vehicle safety regulations provide that a state becomes ineligible for program or incentive funds under the Motor Carrier Assistance Program for failure to adopt new regulation or amendment to the federal regulations within three years of the effective date. Adoption of the changes hasn't occurred since 1995 and the state is out of compliance. In FY 03, Alaska will receive more than $685,000 in basic program and incentive program receipts. Passage of HB 280 is important so DOTPF has the authority to adopt the regulations and avoid the loss of future federal funding. CHAIR COWDERY commented the bill is important. He asked for a motion. SENATOR THERRIAULT motioned to move CSHB 280(FIN) and attached zero fiscal note from committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, it was so ordered.