Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2840, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to modify the State's commercial driver licensing laws to conform to new federal standards, regulations, and penalties pertaining to railroad and highway grade crossings for commercial motor vehicles. In addition, this measure provides stricter standards for disqualification of commercial drivers who have had their licenses revoked or who have been convicted of certain driving offenses.

Your Committee finds that commercial driver licensing laws are designed to improve highway safety by ensuring that drivers of large commercial vehicles are qualified to operate those vehicles safely.

Your Committee further finds that federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations require that Hawaii law with regard to commercial driver licensing conform to federal penalties and sanctions by October 4, 2002.

Therefore, your Committee supports this measure to comply with federal law.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2840, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.