Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2582 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to modify current Commercial Driver Licensing laws so that they conform to new federal standards, regulations, and penalties pertaining to railroad-highway grade crossings for commercial motor vehicles.

The Department of Transportation testified in favor of this measure.

Through ensuring that drivers of large trucks and buses are qualified to operate those vehicles, and by removing unsafe and unqualified drivers from the highways, the federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act) improves highway safety. Recent amendments to the Safety Act seek to strengthen commercial driver licensing laws and further improve highway safety. This bill conforms Hawaii's Commercial Driver Licensing laws to new standards.

Your Committee finds that the State will lose federal highway funds if this bill is not enacted by October 4, 2002.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2582 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.