Public Utilities Commission Streamlined Enforcement Of Motor Carriers

The public utilities commission (commission) in the department of regulatory agencies (department) regulates motor carriers through the issuance of permits. The bill streamlines the commission's enforcement of motor carrier permits as follows:

• Section 2 of the bill clarifies language concerning the imposition of civil penalties for violations of motor carrier regulations, including the civil penalties applicable for subsequent violations. Section 2 also relieves the commission of the obligation to prove that a violation was intentional.
• Section 3 creates a legal services offset fund (fund) to supplement the money appropriated to the department for legal representation of commission staff by the department of law in commission matters concerning the enforcement of motor carrier regulations. Section 3 requires that the state treasurer transfer any money in excess of $250,000 in the fund to the general fund and sets an alternative maximum reserve for the fund, distinct from the maximum reserve generally applicable to cash funds, of $250,000.
• Section 1 requires the commission to transfer all penalties collected for violations of motor carrier regulations to the fund.
• Sections 4, 5, and 6 clarify that a permittee's motor carrier permit is immediately revoked for failure to pay a civil penalty. These sections apply to permittees that are motor carriers of passengers, motor carriers of towed motor vehicles, and motor carriers of household goods, respectively.
  (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)