STOUT BILL SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR

HARRISBURG, July 4, 2005 – The governor has signed legislation sponsored by Sen. J. Barry Stout that will bring Pennsylvania into compliance with federal regulations for commercial driver licensing.

“We worked for several months with federal officials and the state Department of Transportation to determine the differences between current state law and what is required under federal regulations,” said Stout (D-Washington/Greene/Beaver/Westmoreland/ Allegheny).  “I have to commend everyone involved in the process, as well as General Assembly for the speedy passage of this important bill.”

In the midst of this week’s budget negotiations, the state House and Senate both unanimously approved Senate Bill 724.  If state laws did not conform to the new federal guidelines by September 30, Pennsylvania could have lost up to $40 million in federal highway and safety funding and the authority to issue or renew a commercial driver’s license.

The bill implements the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, which requires states to maintain a complete driving record of all traffic violations (except parking) and disqualifies drivers from obtaining a commercial license when they have high-risk traffic offenses in their own, personal vehicles.  The bill also addresses several discrepancies in offenses and penalties between state and federal law.

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