SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1270

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Transportation, April 3, 1995

Title:  An act relating to farm vehicle exceptions to commercial driver's license requirements.

Brief Description:  Excusing small tree harvesters from the commercial driver's license requirements.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Morris, Benton, Sheldon, Pennington, Basich, Chappell, Kessler, Schoesler, Boldt, Hatfield, Stevens and Johnson).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/29/95, 4/3/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Fairley, Haugen, Kohl, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar and Wood.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304)

Background:  A driver of a commercial vehicle must obtain a commercial driver's license with an endorsement for the type of vehicle he or she is driving.  The law exempts farmers who use their own vehicles to transport their agricultural products or farm-related materials distances less than 150 miles from their farms.  It also exempts drivers of emergency vehicles and recreational vehicles used for noncommercial purposes.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Farmers who haul Christmas trees and wood products from their own private tree farms need not obtain a commercial driver's license.  Their vehicles must not exceed 40,000 pounds licensed gross vehicle weight.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The amended bill limits the weight of the vehicles used to transport Christmas trees and wood products from private tree farms.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Farmers should not have to apply for a commercial driver's license to occasionally haul trees that have blown down on their private tree farms. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Rep. Morris, prime sponsor; Nels Hanson, Washington Farm Forestry Assn.; Tom Taylor, Pacific NW Christmas Tree Growers; Larry Pursley, Washington Trucking Assn.