HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2453

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to recreational vehicle drivers' training.

Brief Description:  Establishing minimum curriculum for recreational vehicle drivers' training.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. Fisher, Jones, Betrozoff, Zellinsky, Dorn, P. Johnson, G. Cole, Schmidt, Braddock, Forner, Hargrove, R. Johnson and Wood.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, January 30, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 24 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Cantwell; Cooper; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Horn; P. Johnson; R. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Mitchell; Nelson; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Brough and Heavey.

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307).

Background:  Generally, the operation of certain types of vehicles requires special endorsements to an individual's basic driver's license.  For example, in order to operate a motorcycle or a commercial vehicle, an individual must pass examinations, both knowledge and skill, to prove that he or she has sufficient skills to operate the type of vehicle they wish to drive.

In 1989 the Washington State Legislature enacted the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Program.  The CDL Program was mandated by the federal government in 1986.  The federally mandated program brings uniformity to the states in the licensing of commercial drivers.  The Legislature did not have much latitude to change the provisions of the federal act, since federal highway dollars would have been withheld for non-compliance.  The federal government did leave to the individual states the decision to license drivers of recreational vehicles.  When enacted in 1989, the state CDL Program did not include any requirements for the licensing of RV drivers.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Licensing is required to develop a curriculum to be offered to drivers of recreational vehicles by commercial driver training schools or traffic safety organizations.  This curriculum is to be in place by September 1, 1992.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The Department of Licensing is required to develop a model curriculum for recreational vehicle drivers' training.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This legislation promotes education of recreational vehicle drivers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Mike Wilhelm, citizen; Sandi Wilhelm, citizen; Jeanie Paulson, Log Truckers Conference; Marty Sangster, Washington Trucking Association; Stu Halsan, Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association; Bruce Olsen, AAA of Washington; and Virgil Carrell, Wally Byam Caravan Club.