STAND. COM. REP. NO. 915-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 3190

S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 3190, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve traffic safety. Among other things, this bill:

(1) Requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to revoke the certificate or permit of a motor carrier that knowingly and willfully engages the services of a driver who is not licensed as a commercial driver;

(2) Prohibits a motor carrier whose certificate or permit has been revoked for knowingly or willfully engaging the services of a driver who is not licensed as a commercial driver from applying for a new permit or certificate for a period of five years after revocation;

(3) Makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly or willfully engage the services of an individual not licensed as a commercial driver; and

(4) Requires the Department of Transportation (DOT), at the request of the PUC, to assign a motor vehicle safety officer to assist in the enforcement of these requirements and sanctions.

PUC and the Hawaii Transportation Association testified in support of this bill.

Your Committee finds that it is in the interest of public safety that motor carriers be regulated in a manner that promotes safe, adequate, economical, and efficient motor carrier service. A motor carrier who knowingly and willfully employs a driver who does not hold a commercial driver's license may endanger the safety of the motoring public and should be subject to revocation of its permit or certificate of operation.

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. 3190, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

 

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

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair