SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2124

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 16, 1997

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2124.

      This bill would clarify an exemption granted under current State law from the licensing provisions of the federal "Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986" to specifically include operators of emergency or rescue equipment used for disaster control, such as a hazardous materials incident.

      County offices of emergency management are often staffed by a handful of employees as well as many more part-time volunteers. This bill would enable those full-time employees and part-time volunteers to operate emergency management equipment without having to be specifically licensed as commercial motor vehicle operators.