STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1591

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1062

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1062, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify the validity period for a commercial learner's permit; and

(2) Add a requirement for certain commercial driver's license applicants to complete an entry-level driver training course before taking other required tests for licensure to comply with federal regulations.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committees find that, effective February 7, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will require states to comply with federal entry-level driver training regulations for certain first-time commercial driver's license applicants. Failure to comply with the federal mandate could result in millions of dollars being withheld from the federal Highway Trust Fund that would otherwise be appropriated to the State.  Your Committees further note that approximately two-thirds of all states have already implemented this requirement. In light of the exceptional penalties that would be assessed against the State for failure to comply, this measure is important to bring parity with federal law and to ensure the State continues its eligibility to receive the full amounts apportioned to it from the federal Highway Trust Fund.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1062, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1062, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair