Washington State House of Representatives |
BILL ANALYSIS |
Transportation Committee |
|
HB 2532
Brief Description: Modifying commercial driver's license provisions.
Sponsors: Representative Simpson, G.; by request of Department of Licensing.
Brief Summary of Bill |
• Modifying state Commercial Driver License (CDL) provisions to come into compliance with federal regulations. |
• Amends provisions related to licensing and disqualification of CDL holders; adds a separate CDL endorsement for operation of a school bus; and modifies hazardous material endorsement requirements to comply with federal Hazardous Materials security threat assessment requirements. |
Hearing Date: 1/28/04
Staff: Jill Satran (786-7315).
Background:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (MCSIA) made several modifications to federal CDL regulations. States are required to come into substantial compliance with these regulations before September 2005. In addition, new federal rules have been added regarding security threat assessments of individuals applying for a Hazardous Materials endorsement for a CDL. States were required to come into compliance with these new regulations prior to September of 2003, but an extension has been granted. The length of the extension is not yet known. Failure to comply with these new regulations would subject Washington to potential decertification. If this occurs, Washington may lose federal highway funding and commercial drivers operating under a Washington CDL would not be allowed to operate commercial motor vehicles in other states.
Summary of Bill:
In order to comply with new federal regulations, this bill amends the Uniform Commercial Driver's License Act to:
• Prohibit "masking" of traffic violations from the driving records of a CDL holder.
• Add additional traffic violations and offenses that would disqualify a person from driving a commercial motor vehicle.
• Require the Department of Licensing to obtain a new CDL applicant's driving record from every state in which they have been licensed in the last 10 years.
• Provide for the disqualification of a CDL where the holder has caused a fatality through the negligent operation of a commercial motor vehicle.
• Permit the immediate disqualification of a CDL where the holder has been determined to constitute an imminent hazard by the federal DOT.
• Require instruction permit holders to be at least eighteen years of age, to have passed a general knowledge examination, and paid the appropriate application and exam fees.
• Prohibit CDL instruction permit holders from operating a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials.
• Create a new endorsement category for school bus operation.
• Update definitions of "hazardous materials," "school bus," and "serious traffic violations."
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill contains multiple effective dates.