HB 46-WAIVE CDL SKILL TEST FOR CERTAIN VETERANS  1:48:38 PM CHAIR EGAN brought the meeting back to order and announced the hearing of HB 46. REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, sponsor of HB 46, introduced the bill. He said Alaskans who have honed their driving skills in service to our country in uniform deserve to have their experience validated and respected in the civilian world. HB 46 helps recent Alaskan veterans get jobs and helps Alaska businesses get qualified drivers by acknowledging military drivers already have safe driving skills. He said that about 63,000 service members had military jobs involving truck driving in most recent years and it is one of the top specialties in the armed services. Many of the industries in Alaska - tourism, construction, oil field work, retail - require drivers to have a commercial driver's license (CDL). Recent federal law allows states to waive the road skills test for the CDL if military drivers have recent driving experience and a clean driving record. They, of course, must still pass the knowledge test, the division test and the physical test. The federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is encouraging states to allow such waivers. As of January 9, 2013, 34 states have waived the test for military and 10 other states are working on such waivers and 7 do not current accept the waivers. HB 46 directs the Department of Administration to adopt regulations in accordance with the federal standards to allow the State of Alaska to issue such waivers. HB 46 means jobs for Alaska veterans and qualified drivers for Alaska businesses. CHAIR EGAN opened public testimony. 1:51:14 PM MARC SAN SOUCI, Regional Liaison, U.S. Department of Defense, expressed support for HB 46. He said in the past couple of years 25 states had enacted new laws to help grant our veterans credit towards licensing in occupations such as the CDL. The heavy and tractor trailer driving career field in the military is in the top ten of all occupations specialties in all of the military and the second highest occupation in the Army and the Marines. The Department of Labor and Occupational Network online partnership forecasts the truck driving field as one of the brightest outlook fields with a faster than average job growth rate of 20-28 percent over the next 10 years. He also pointed out that the military training has already been paid for by our tax dollars. There will be almost 1 million new veterans by 2016. 1:53:23 PM LAWRENCE BETHEL, Pacific Region President, Association U.S. Army, supported HB 46. Thirty-four other states have provided this waiver to the military. Most typically they have substituted two years of commercial motor vehicle safe driving in the military for the skills test and apply this rule up to 90 days after separation from active duty for Guard Reserve or the Coast Guard. He said the military in Alaska separates anywhere from 250-300 veterans per month, mostly at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER). Typically 10 to 20 percent of veterans intend to remain in Alaska. Their reasons include veteran friendly residents and benefits, great job opportunities, great fishing and winter fun, and a family friendly environment with good schools, low crime and a clean environment. About 22 of those JBER soldiers per month have achieved their Army driver's badge and many of them are combat soldiers. In general, Alaska law requires CDLs on operating vehicles in excess of 2,600 pounds and those transporting hazardous materials or when operating vehicles with 16 or more passengers. Waiver of the CDL road test for qualifying military in Alaska will assist them in numerous ways. It offers well-paid employment in a growing career field across the country. Service members will be able to feel secure in their career choice. This career in Alaska pays well with a median average hourly rate of $24.23, per US Department of Labor 2011 figures. It is also an attractive part-time work option for military who are completing degrees or certifications. Further, this legislation honors veterans' selfless service to the country and their considerable experience operating and maintaining a variety of complex vehicles from 13-ton light transports to fuel trucks on highways and diesels trucks with highly technical equipment, some of which is valued in excess of $2 million. Most veterans already have considerable driving experience over remote roads to and from ranges, missile defense sites and exercise or deployments involving ports, runways and railroads. Many service members have the army drivers' badge. This badge requires a government driver's license and 8,000 miles of 12-month of accident-free driving with no traffic violations as well as approval by a lieutenant colonel or above. The road test waiver provides a faster less-expensive route to employment and decreases transition stress for the family. It requires testing in a large vehicle, which soldiers do not have, or enrollment in a 4-hour $500 or a $1,000 10-hour commercial driving program. Current training programs have a wait list. Alaskan employers greatly benefit from military hires who have this extensive experience operating in underdeveloped and hostile locations. In addition, service members are self- disciplined, sensitized to continue to operate as a team with a safety focus, think on their feet and apply good judgment, and understand corporate policy's chain of command and the importance of good communication. He summarized that Alaska benefits by retaining more veterans and adding them to the workforce as well as maintaining its reputation as one of the most supportive states for veterans. This legislation is a win/win for all parties. He concluded that Alaska veterans are 16.2 percent of the state's population, number one in the country per capita. With about 722,000 residents in 2011 that means we have about 117,000 residents that are veterans. 1:58:58 PM SENATOR DYSON noted that Representative Saddler represents Eagle River with the highest number of military in the state-north of 25 percent. He shares the honor of representing that district and they are amongst the best citizens in the state to represent. He thanked Mr. Bethel for his work. 2:00:05 PM AVES THOMPSON, Executive Director, Alaska Trucking Association, said the association represents nearly 200 companies that support HB 46. As an industry they welcome returning veterans and appreciate this opportunity to do something in their support. These men and women have had some of the best truck driver training available and will also have a good deal of recent hands-on experience in driving big rigs. With the proper certifications as to a veteran's experience the association supported waiving the skills test for the issuance of a CDL. He was a veteran himself and was proud to support HB 46. 2:01:26 PM AMY ERICKSON, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, testified in support of HB 46 saying they would have to fashion regulations to allow this to happen. SENATOR DYSON moved to report HB 46 from committee to the next committee of referral with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, the motion carried.