03/29/02 - A bill to require all new applicants and persons renewing a CDL to undergo a state and national criminal history background check of state and federal wanted or "hot file" records passed the Kentucky Senate March 28.

Rep. Mike Weaver (D-Elizabethtown), sponsor of HB189, said it would strengthen control over who could drive a commercial truck. The bill also would set more stringent guidelines for issuing commercial licenses to non-Kentucky residents.

HB189 had its third reading on the Senate floor March 28. Amendments one, three and four were withdrawn, floor amendment two was rejected and the bill passed 33-3. It now heads to Gov. Paul Patton for signature.

Also passed by the Senate is HB190, a companion bill that would set stricter standards for the education and training required before an applicant is tested for a CDL. Under that bill, trucking school students would need 160 hours of training. HB190 now returns to the House for agreement on two Senate amendments before heading to the governor.

The general information number is (502) 564-8100.

2-01-2002 -- Agriculture interests are lobbing heavily while HB40 heads for its third reading in the Kentucky House. Rep. Gary Tapp's (R-Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt) bill requires that all diesel fuel in the Kentucky Commonwealth contain a 2 percent biodiesel blend by July 1, 2003. The proposal also increases the blend to 5 percent by July 2007. According to Kentucky bill status, the bill has been amended to exempt railroads from the requirements of the bill. The Kentucky Motor Transport Association say the bill could cause mechanical and emission problems. Allegedly, one opponent to the bill said it was an attempt by heavily subsidized agricultural interests to tax diesel fuel users through the force of a state mandate in order to provide a financial subsidy to biodiesel producers.

HB40 is sitting in the Regular Orders of the Day waiting for its third reading as of Feb.1. For more information call bill status at 1-877-765-0447.

01/14/02 - A bill to define "rear impact guards and rear end protection" was introduced on the Senate floor Jan. 9. SB79 would require the Transportation Cabinet and the State Police to include the inspection of rear impact guards when performing safety inspections; require the Transportation Cabinet to include violations of missing or defective rear guards in the out-of-service criteria used for safety inspections. The bill also allows a vehicle placed out of service to drive to their destination if the vehicle is transporting animals or perishable goods before repairs are made.

If passed, SB79 would establish a fine of $250 per violation. If the owner has the affected part replaced within 30 days, then the ticket is required to be dismissed by the county attorney. If the owner chooses not to fix the rear guard after they have been issued a citation, warnings will be issued for 90 days and the vehicle then will be placed out of service. On Jan. 14 the bill was sent to the Senate Transportation Committee. The general number for the Kentucky Legislature is (502) 564-3120.

4/24/01 - A number of bills relating to transportation were introduced in Kentucky this year. Most of them were left in committee at session's end March 22. HCR8, a measure that would ask lawmakers to study whether or not to eliminate, or at least modify, the state's weight-distance tax passed with no opposition through both House and Senate. The governor signed HCR8 on March 19.
Freshman Sen. Ray Jones, author of SB154, watched his first bill die as the Kentucky Senate adjourned. The bill would have required the Transportation Cabinet and the state police to include the inspection of rear impact guards and rear end protection when performing safety inspections and allow officers to put a truck out of service for missing or no rear guard. SB154 would have set a $250 fine. Current law calls for a penalty of $25 to $200, but does not allow officers to put a truck out of service for not having an underride guard. The Senate and House tacked a number of amendments to the bill before killing it on the Senate floor.
Both SB11 and HB129 proposed raising speed limits on rural interstates and parkways to 70 mph, state highways at 55 mph for all vehicles. HB129 also included setting a maximum speed in residential areas at 35 mph, a proposal that faces stiff opposition, according to newspaper reports. Neither bill survived.

3/19/01-The state of Kentucky introduced HCR8 on March 19, to study whether or not to eliminate, or at least modify, the state's weight distance tax. The legislature has appointed the Research Commission's Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue to conduct a study to determine the effect removing the tax will have on the state.
The general information number for the Kentucky Legislature is (502) 564-3120.

3/13/01-Freshman Senator Ray Jones (D-31) author of SB154 watched his first bill die as the Kentucky Senate adjourned early last week. The bill, entitled an act relating to the safety of motor carriers would have required the Transportation Cabinet and the state police to include the inspection of rear impact guards and rear end protection when performing safety inspections and allow officers to put a truck out of service for missing or no rear guard. SB154 would have set a $250 fine. Current law calls for a penalty of $25 to $200, but does not allow officers to put a truck out of service for not having an underride guard.

2/12/01 - Both SB11 and HB129 propose raising speed limits on rural interstates and parkways to 70 mph, state highways at 55 mph for all vehicles. HB129 also includes setting a maximum speed in residential areas at 35 mph, a proposal that faces stiff opposition, according to newspaper reports. The bill was sent Feb. 6 to the House Transportation Committee. The general information number of the Kentucky General Assembly is 502-564-8100.