Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 1407 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish commercial driver's license reciprocity with other states and Canadian provinces by waiving the commercial driver's license (CDL) knowledge and skills test for any person who is twenty-one years of age with a valid state or Canadian CDL issued in compliance with federal standards.

The Department of Transportation and Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu testified in support of this measure.

Since all states are required to issue CDLs that meet minimum federal requirements, your Committee finds that the issuance of a CDL through reciprocity will be successful and not place the public in any danger. Other states also accept Canadian CDLs since that nation also tests its drivers based upon the United States' minimum federal requirements. Moreover, licensing offices in the United States and Canada already share driver status and conviction information on commercial vehicle operators. Your Committee finds that since other states and Canada follow the same requirements for CDL licensure as Hawaii, it is unnecessary to require persons holding a CDL from other states or Canada to undergo further testing to obtain a Hawaii CDL.

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 S.B. No. 1407 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.