HCS SCS SB 760 -- UNIFIED CARRIER REGISTRATIONS

SPONSOR:  Stouffer (St. Onge)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Transportation by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute authorizes the Highways and Transportation
Commission to take the necessary steps to implement and
administer a state plan to conform with the federal Unified
Carrier Registration (UCR) Act of 2005.  The UCR Act eliminates
the state's registration system and replaces it with the federal
UCR Agreement.

The commission may submit to the proper federal authorities,
amend, and carry out a state plan to qualify as a base-state and
to participate in the UCR Program and administer the UCR
Agreement.  The commission is authorized to administer the
registration of Missouri domiciled motor carriers, motor private
carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies, and
persons domiciled in nonparticipating states who have designated
Missouri as their base-state under the UCR Act; to receive,
collect, process, deposit, transfer, distribute, and refund
registration fees; and to enter into an agreement with any United
States agency.

Every motor carrier, motor private carrier, broker, and freight
forwarder and leasing company that has its principal place of
business in Missouri and every person who has designated this
state as his or her base-state must timely complete and file with
the commission all the forms and registration fees required by
the UCR Program.

Implementing the UCR Act will not be construed as exempting any
motor carrier or any person controlled by a motor carrier from
any state regulation regarding motor carriers.

The substitute also repeals provisions regarding the issuance of
interstate motor carrier permits.

Certain motor carriers who transport agricultural products are
exempted from the provisions of the act and agreement.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that federal legislation, enacted in
August 2005, established the UCR Program and required it to
replace the Single State Registration Program which Missouri
operates.  The bill will allow the Department of Transportation
to participate in the UCR Program and continue collecting
regulatory license fees from Missouri motor carriers.  Annual
registration fees collected are approximately $2.3 million.

Testifying for the bill were Representative St. Onge for Senator
Stouffer; Department of Transportation; and Missouri Motor
Carriers Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm