SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5429

As Passed Senate, March 16, 2003

Title: An act relating to the Performance Registration Information Systems Management Program (PRISM).

Brief Description: Authorizing the Performance Registration Information Systems Management Program (PRISM).

Sponsors: Senators Mulliken, Prentice and Horn; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/26/03, 3/6/03 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/16/03, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Finkbeiner, Haugen, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Prentice and Spanel.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: The Performance and Registration Information Systems Management Program (PRISM) is a cooperative federal-state safety program developed to reduce commercial vehicle accidents through a comprehensive system of identification, education, awareness, safety monitoring and treatment. PRISM includes the Commercial Vehicle Registration Process and the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Process (MCSIP).

MCSIP is a monitoring system that houses current safety event data used to assess and monitor motor carrier safety performance. Within MCSIP, carriers with potential safety problems are identified and prioritized for an on-site review. Carriers who do not improve their safety fitness record are given a federal operations out of service order.

Participating states register motor carriers, engaged in interstate commerce, using their unique United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number. States may then check the USDOT number with the federal program and deny registration or revoke registration if the carrier has a federal out of service order safety status.

Summary of Bill: The following information must be submitted with an application for an original or renewal registration: (1) the USDOT number of the registrant and the motor carrier responsible for the safety of the vehicle, if different; and (2) the taxpayer identification number of the registrant and the motor carrier responsible for the safety of the vehicle, if different. At the time of fleet renewal, or at the time of vehicle registration, a motor carrier must also submit a completed Motor Carrier Identification Report (MCS-150), if required by the Department of Licensing (DOL).

DOL must refuse to register, or suspend the registration of, a motor carrier, if the motor carrier has been prohibited from operating, under federal law, by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: PRISM is a cooperative program and links the motor carrier's ability to operate in our state directly to that carrier's safety performance.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Art Farley, Department of Licensing (pro).