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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Vigil

 

DATE TYPED:

2/13/03

 

HB

347

 

SHORT TITLE:

Definition of a “Commercial Motor Vehicle”

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Wilson

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

NFI

 

 

 

Relates to SB 242, SB 262 and HB 250

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Taxation & Revenue Department (TRD)

Attorney General’s Office (AGO)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 347 amends the definition of “commercial motor carrier vehicle” and “commercial motor vehicle” in the Motor Transportation Act and the Motor Vehicle Code to reflect federal changes in the law.

 

The terms are defined as self-propelled or towed vehicles, used on public highways in commerce to transport passengers or cargo with specific weight limitations, specific numbers of occupants or transporting hazardous materials.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The State is mandated by 49 CFR, Part 350, to adopt a compatible “commercial motor carrier vehicle” definition.

 

DPS states that it will be advantageous to have the State change the definition of a “commercial motor carrier vehicle” contained in 65-1-2 and “commercial motor vehicle” contained in 66-1-4.2, Motor Vehicle Code, to the same definition in order to maintain consistency or uniformity in field enforcement.

 

Furthermore, from a training and understanding standpoint, it will be easier for the Motor Transportation Division of DPS to train enforcement personnel with one set of applicability rules and should increase the quality of enforcement and reduce confusion among enforcement personnel and the motor carrier industry.

 

RELATIONSHIP

 

Relates to HB 250, SB 242 and SB 262 because these bills also make changes to commercial driver’s licenses.

 

DW/prr