STAND. COM. REP. NO.  325

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 894

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 894 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS' LICENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to address the current shortage of commercial drivers within the State of Hawaii by allowing drivers who are 18 years-of-age or older to qualify for a Commercial Drivers' License (CDL) to transport intrastate commerce.

     The Hawaii Transportation Association and President of U. Okada & Co. Ltd. testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) testified in opposition to this measure.

     Hawaii, like the rest of the nation, faces a shortage of commercial drivers.  With increased economic activity resulting in increased freight volume and increased tourism in Hawaii, the situation is expected to worsen.  Allowing individuals who are 18 years-of-age or older to qualify for a CDL, with certain restrictions, is an attempt to deal with the need for professional drivers.

     While your Committee understands the safety concerns raised by DOT regarding the age of CDL drivers and the maturity level needed to operate a commercial vehicle, especially larger trailer-type vehicles, and recognizes that current federal regulations require CDL drivers to be at least 21 years of age, this idea deserves further discussion.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by clarifying that:

     (1)  An individual who is at least 18 years-of-age but under        the age of 21 is permitted to drive a commercial motor        vehicle under certain conditions in lieu of a CDL; and

     (2)  Maintaining a provisional driver's license for two years      immediately preceding driving commercially fulfills one       of the conditions for allowing an individual who is at           least 18 years-of-age but under the age of 21 to drive         commercially.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 894, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 894, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair