2017 Kansas Legislature Convenes January 9, 2017
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DISPATCH Kansas Motor Carriers Association Affiliated with the American Trucking Associations inside this issue of the dispatch 2017 KANSAS LEGISLATURE CONVENES JANUARY 9, 2017 DECEMBER 2016 The 2017 Session of the Kansas Legislature will convene at the sound CALENDAR OF EVENTS of the gavel on January 9th. They are scheduled for a 100-day session, meaning they will adjourn sometime in late May or early June. UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLYING WITH ELD Republicans maintain a 31-9 majority in the Kansas Senate and an 85-40 MANDATE EDUCATION majority in the Kansas House of Representatives. Leadership elections COURSE REGISTRATION took place last week and the following Representatives and Senators FORM were elected: Kansas House of Representatives CONGRESS PASSES Speaker of the House – Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr., R-Olathe RESTART FIX FOR Majority Leader – Rep. Don Hineman, R-Lakin HOURS-OF-SERVICE Speaker Pro Tem – Rep. Scott Schwab, R-Olathe Assistant Majority Leader – Rep. Tom Phillips, R-Manhattan FMCSA ANNOUNCES Majority Whip – Rep. Kent Thompson, R-Iola FINAL RULES WITH Republican Caucus Chair – Rep. Susan Concannon, R-Beloit MAJOR IMPACT FOR Minority Leader – Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita DRIVERS Assistant Majority Leader – Rep. Stan Frownfelter, D-Kansas City Democrat Caucus Chair – Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence FLEET SAFETY Democrat Caucus Whip – Rep. Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield CONTEST FORMS Kansas Senate Senate President – Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita KMCA DAY AT TEH Senate Vice President – Sen. Jeff Longbine, R-Emporia CAPITOL R.S.V.P Majority Leader – Sen. Jim Denning, R- Overland Park Assistant Majority Leader – Sen. Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka Senate GOP Whip – Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia Minority Leader – Sen. Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka Assistant Minority Leader – Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka Minority Whip – Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence 80 Minority Caucus Chair – Sen. Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan CONTINUTED FROM COVER The House and Senate Leadership will select Committee Chairman and Committee members. As reported in the November issue of the Dispatch, the first order of business for the 2017 Legislature is the projection of a $345 million budget shortfall that must be addressed before June 30, 2017. In addition, the Governor and Legislature are awaiting a decision from the Kansas Supreme Court on the adequacy of school funding which could further add to the budget shortfall. This time around they can’t tap the bank of KDOT for additional funds. Previous Legislature has already diverted all the sales tax revenue dedicated to the State Highway Fund for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year. Advocacy groups representing children, teachers, schools, labor unions and the Kansas Contractors Association have formed a coalition and produced a package of income tax, sales tax and fuel tax reforms and increases. This package includes an $.11 increase in the tax on gasoline and diesel. The coalition’s tax package is the first of many that will be discussed during the 2017 Session of the Kansas Legislature. On the transportation agenda for the 2017 Session will be a proposal to increase the maximum gross vehicle weight allowed on non-interstate highways in Kansas to 90,000 pounds. This proposal is being pushed by the Kansas Grain and Feed Association, the Kansas Livestock Association and the Kansas Cooperative Association and supported by KMCA. A $200 annual permit would be required for each vehicle to exceed the current 85,000-pound gross vehicle weight limit. 90,000-pound combination vehicles would be subject to the Federal Bridge formula. Watch for updates in the KMCA Dispatch and KMCA emails. On Wednesday, February 15, 2017, KMCA will once again sponsor Kansas Trucking Day at the Capital. The afternoon will begin with a KMCA Board of Directors meeting with guest speakers from Legislative Leadership and conclude with the annual House and Senate Transportation Committees Dinner at the Top of the Tower in Downtown Topeka. State Capital tours will be available during the morning of February 15. Every year we highlight member’s model trucks as centerpieces for the dinner. Following dinner, Committee members can win one of these special model trucks. If you have one you would like to donate, please send them to KMCA at 2900 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66611. We would like to thank Jamie Bradley with Doug Bradley Trucking in Salina for being the first to donate. KMCA’s Legislative Team of Tom Whitaker, Executive Director, and Melissa Kershner, Director of Governmental Relations/Safety, will keep you updated on the latest happenings under the dome. For further information please contact Tom Whitaker at (785)267-1641 by email at [email protected] or Melissa Kershner at (785)267- 1641 by email at mkershner@ kmca.org. CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS March 1, 2017 December 26, 2017 Truck Registration Renewals Grace Period Ends KMCA Closed for Holiday March 14, 2017 January 2, 2017 Safety Management Council Meeting - Topeka, KS KMCA Closed for Holiday April 13, 2017 January 10, 2017 Safety Awards Banquet - Topeka, KS Safety Management Council Meeting - Topeka, KS May 09, 2017 February 9, 2017 Safety Management Council Meeting ELD Education - Scopelitis Transporation Consulting - Great Plains Manufacturing Company - Salina KS NEW KMCA MEMBERS February 15, 2017 Kansas Ag Freight Company LLC – Emporia, KS KMCA Day at the Capitol - Topeka, KS Paw Creek Trucking LLC - Delia, KS 2 UNDERSTANDING & COMPLYING WITH THE ELD MANDATE EDUCATION COURSE REGISTRATION FORM The government has set the ELD compliance date for December 2017—which means you and your team have less than a year to learn the rules, research the ELD options, train your drivers and office staff, and outfit your trucks with this technology. The lawsuit is over, and the ELD clock is ticking. KMCA is here to help! KMCA is hosting a newly developed and comprehensive ELD training seminar in February, where you and members of your team will learn: 1. Why Congress passed an ELD law; 2. FMCSA’s complex rules, and how to simplify them for your drivers and staff; and, 3. Real-world operational issues & challenges trucking companies face with implementation and, more importantly, how to address those challenges. EVENT DETAILS When: February 9, 2017 Time: 8:30am – 11:45am Where: Great Plains Trucking Training Room, Salina, KS Who (Presenter): Dave Osiecki, Recognized ELD Expert & President of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting Registration Fee: $60 per person TIME SCHEDULE 8:30 to 9:00 am Coffee and Breakfast Snack 9:00 to 10:00 am Understanding the ELD Law and FMCSA’s Rules 10:00 to 11:15 am Real-World Challenges & ELD-Related Operational Considerations & Solutions 11:15 to 11:45 am Summary & Q&A Session 11:45 am Seminar Concludes Don’t wait to register, space is limited to 30 attendees, should this moring session fill up, an afternoon session will be arranged begining at 1:00 pm. For more information about this event or to be notified if an afternoon session is arranged, please visit www. kmca.org or email Melissa Kershner at [email protected] REGISTRATION FORM Attendee Name:_____________________________________________________________________________ Company: __________________________________________________________________________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone:_________________________ Fax:______________________E-mail:____________________________ REGISTRATION IS $60 PER ATTENDEE AND PAYMENT IS REQUIRED WITH REGISTRATION Check for $_______________ is enclosed - Please make checks payable to Kansas Motor Carriers Association Credit Card#:_______________________________________________ Exp. Date:________________________ Name as appears on Card:________________________________________________ 3-digit code:__________ Please return forms and payment to: Kansas Motor Carriers Association - P.O. Box 1673 - Topeka, KS 66601 - Fax: 785.266.6551 - Phone: 785.267.1641 The entry-level driver training final rule announced CONGRESS PASSES RESTART Dec. 7, dropped a controversial Federal Motor Carrier FIX FOR HOURS-OF-SERVICE Safety Administration proposal earlier this year that Credit: information Gathered from Transport Topics would have required truck drivers to log at least 30 hours of behind the wheel training to be eligible The clarification of an hours-of-service rule for for the commercial driver’s license test. Instead the truckers in a short-term funding bill was signed by final rule requires that behind-the-wheel proficiency President Obama shortly after the Senate cleared the of an entry-level truck driver be determined by the bill on December 9 and a shutdown of the federal instructor’s evaluation of how well the driver performs government was averted. the fundamental vehicle control skills and driving procedures set forth in the curricula. The rule will The bill’s enactment solidified a win for trucking become effective Feb. 6 but won’t require compliance executives critical of hours-of-service policy. The until February 7,2020. so-called fix to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s HOS rule was sought successfully by The rule does not require a specific number of American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear classroom instruction. The rule does state that training and his team on Capitol Hill. “Thanks to hard work providers must provide instruction in all elements of by congressional leaders of both parties