BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    1
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   SENATE ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
                  DEBRA BOWEN, CHAIRWOMAN


AB 957 -  Scott                                   Hearing  
Date:  July 13, 1999                 A
As Amended:         July 7, 1999             FISCAL       B
                                                             
  
                                                             
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                         DESCRIPTION
  
  Current law  requires the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to  
inspect every motor carrier terminal, including terminals  
of household goods carriers, at least once every 25 months  
and requires every motor carrier to submit specified fees  
for such inspection.  

  Current law  requires the California Public Utilities  
Commission (CPUC), upon recommendation of the CHP and after  
a hearing, to suspend a household goods carrier's permit  
for specified violations of law and regulation. 
  
This bill  adds the failure to submit any application or fee  
associated with the terminal inspection program to the list  
of actions for which the CHP can recommend that the CPUC  
suspend a household goods carrier's permit.

  Current law  requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)  
to revoke or suspend a motor carrier of property's permit  
for specified violations of law and regulation.

  This bill  adds the failure to submit any application or fee  
associated with the terminal inspection program to the list  
of actions for which the DMV may suspend or revoke the  
motor carrier's permit.












  This bill  bars a motor carrier of property whose permit has  
been suspended due to its failure to maintain its vehicles  
from permitting another motor carrier to operate its  
vehicles.  

  This bill  also bars a motor carrier from operating a  
vehicle of a motor carrier of property whose permit has  
been suspended due to its failure to maintain its vehicles.

                          BACKGROUND
  
  Safety First  .  The CHP conducts a biennial motor carrier  
terminal inspection for safety purposes.  It's up to the  
motor carrier to schedule the inspection, complete an  
application form, and submit specified fees that range from  
$100-$400 depending on the number of vehicles housed at the  
terminal.  All fees are deposited in the Motor Vehicle  
Account to pay for the cost of terminal inspections and  
other roadside safety inspections required by law.

  Balance Due  .  The CHP is having a hard time collecting the  
inspection fees in a timely fashion.  Right now, the CHP  
says over 5,000 terminals are past due on their payments,  
which adds up to about $1,022,200 in uncollected fee  
revenues.  

                           COMMENTS

1.Forget The Carrots, Bring On The Sticks  .  The sponsor of  
  this measure, the CHP, believes that by having the  
  ability to threaten a motor carrier with a suspension or  
  revocation of their permit to due business in California,  
  it will be able to "encourage" motor carriers to pay  
  their inspection fee bills in a more timely fashion.
  
2.Second Referral  .  This bill was heard by the Senate  
  Transportation Committee on June 29, 1999 and approved on  
  a 10-0 vote.
  

                       ASSEMBLY VOTES
  
Assembly Transportation Committee  (18-0)
Assembly Appropriations Committee  (21-0)










Assembly Floor                     (79-0)

                          POSITIONS
  
  Support:
  California Highway Patrol (Sponsor)
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
California Trucking Association

  Oppose:
  None reported to Committee.


Randy Chinn 
AB 957 Analysis
Hearing Date:  July 13, 1999