BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1014
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 1014 (Galgiani) - As Amended: May 5, 2009
Policy Committee: Transportation
Vote: 12-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill allows a restricted Class A or restricted Class B
driver's license to be issued for the operation of any vehicle
in the production, harvesting, or transportation of silage in
specified counties. Specifically, the bill:
1)Allows the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue the
restricted licenses for the operation of any vehicle in the
production, harvesting, or transportation of silage in Butte,
Del Norte, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los
Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Placer,
Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Benito, San Diego,
San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara,
Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus,
Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba Counties.
2)Requires DMV to implement these provisions in conformance with
specified federal regulations.
3)Requires a licensed California driver applying for a
restricted license issued under these provisions, upon
application and every two years thereafter, to submit medical
information on a form approved by DMV in lieu of a report of a
medical examination.
FISCAL EFFECT
No net costs to DMV as they estimate that first-year costs of
$465,000 and declining amounts thereafter needed to devise and
conduct new written and road tests would be covered by fees
currently authorized for class A and class B restricted licenses
AB 1014
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($64 and $32 for renewals).
COMMENTS
1)Background . Current law requires a Class A driver's license
for the operation of a combination of vehicles, a vehicle
towing more than one vehicle, or a trailer bus. It requires a
Class B driver's license for the operation of several smaller
types of vehicles such as a single vehicle with a gross
vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds, a single
vehicle with three or more axles (except any three-axle
vehicle weighing less than 6,000 pounds), a bus (except a
trailer bus), or a farm labor vehicle. DMV is permitted to
issue a restricted a class A license under specific
circumstances, when the towing of the trailer is not for
compensation.
The author reports that silage is fermented high-moisture
fodder that can be fed to animals like cattle and sheep. It is
fermented and stored in a process called ensilage silaging,
and usually made from crops, including corn, grass, sorghum,
or other cereals. using the entire green plant, not just the
grain.
2)Rationale . The author states that the purpose of the bill is
to create a narrow solution to a problem facing the the silage
industry. She reports that, due to the increased vehicle
weight of the newly produced silage vehicles, drivers of
silage trucks are required to have a commercial driver's
license (Class A or B). She states that "the majority of the
silage business is conducted during the spring and summer
months. Due to the fact that work is only needed on a
temporary basis, it is nearly impossible to hire commercial
truck drivers thus forcing business owners to break the law or
not conduct business."
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081