Brief ⁽¹⁾

HB 2290 relates to motor carriers. The bill would:

• Allow the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to define the term "household goods" to conform to federal law; (The term "household goods" is not now defined.)
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• Define a "private motor carrier" as a person who provides transportation of property or passengers, by commercial vehicle and is not a for-hire motor carrier; (This definition change is required to be compatible with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Assistance grant. It also allows Kansas to continue to receive federal funds to hire Highway Patrol troopers.)
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• Delete references to the Interstate Commerce Commission and replace it with the term "relevant federal agency"; (The Interstate Commerce Commission was abolished in 1995 and other agencies have assumed some its role.)
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• Eliminate the requirement for private motor carriers weighing less than 10,001 pounds to obtain a permit from the Commission; (The Commission does not believe it is necessary to regulate some small businesses. Lightweight vehicles transporting hazardous materials that require placards would still be required to obtain a permit from the KCC.) and
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• Bring under KCC safety rules and regulations intrastate motor carriers with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 26,000 pounds, carrying tools, property, or material belonging to the owner or the vehicle, and used in repair, building, or construction work, not having been sold or being transported for the purpose of sale. (This change would bring "tools of the trade" carriers under the safety rules and regulations of the Commission.)
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Background

The following conferees testified in support of HB 2290: the Director of Transportation, KCC, a trooper of the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Executive Director of the Kansas Motor Carrier Association. The amendments were the result of a subcommittee recommendation.

No fiscal note was available when the Committee took action on the bill.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi