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An Act To Remove Barriers to Job Opportunities for Young Truck Drivers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §555, sub-§2, ¶A-2, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 251, §1, is amended to read:
 
A-2. TheExcept for a program under subsection 5, the bureau may not adopt any rule that exempts motor carriers, vehicles or drivers transporting hazardous materials of a type or quantity that requires the vehicle to be marked or placarded in accordance with 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 172 from any federal regulation adopted and incorporated by reference into any rule adopted by the bureau pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding paragraph A-1, the Maine Administrative Procedure Act does not apply to the amendment of any rule consistent with the prohibition set forth in this paragraph.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §555, sub-§5  is enacted to read:
 
5.  Program for drivers 18 to 21 years of age.     Notwithstanding subsection 2, paragraph A-2, the bureau may create a program of limited duration exempting a driver 18 to 21 years of age from federal regulations adopted by the bureau under that paragraph that:
 
A.  Encourages the driver to enter the commercial trucking profession;
 
B.  Reduces the regulatory barriers for drivers 18 to 21 years of age; and
 
C.  Monitors and records the skills and driving records of drivers 18 to 21 years of age.
 
The bureau shall seek input from the commercial trucking industry in the development of a program under this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police to create a program of limited duration for truck drivers 18 to 21 years of age under an exemption from federal regulations concerning transporting hazardous materials adopted by the bureau that encourages the drivers to enter the commercial trucking profession and reduces the regulatory barriers for and monitors and records the skills and driving records of the drivers.