HAULS Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-792
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2021-03-17
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Agricultural practices and innovations

Aquaculture

Department of Transportation

Fishes

Forests, forestry, trees

Fruit and vegetables

Horticulture and plants

Insects

Labor standards

Livestock

Motor carriers

Motor vehicles

Transportation employees

Transportation safety and security

Worker safety and health
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-17
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2021 or the HAULS Act of 202</b><strong>1</strong></p> <p>This bill modifies exemptions with respect to commercial motor vehicle safety regulations involving the transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies.</p> <p>The bill allows the federal hours-of-service rules exemption regarding maximum driving and on-duty time for drivers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies to apply year-round. Current law provides an exception from the federal hours-of-service rules for the transportation of agricultural commodities within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location only during planting and harvest periods which are determined by each state.</p> <p>Additionally, the Department of Transportation must revise the definition of agricultural commodity to include specific commodities that are covered by the federal hours-of-service rules exception.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 792 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 17 (legislative day, March 16), 2021 Mrs. Fischer (for herself, Mr. Tester , Mr. Wicker , and Ms. Smith ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To amend the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 to modify certain agricultural exemptions for hours of service requirements, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2021 or the HAULS Act of 2021 . 2. Transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies Section 229 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 ( 49 U.S.C. 31136 note; Public Law 106–159 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking during planting and harvest periods, as determined by each State, ; and (B) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (A) drivers transporting agricultural commodities within a 150 air-mile radius from— (i) the source of the agricultural commodities; or (ii) the destination of the agricultural commodities; ; and (2) in subsection (e)(8), by striking during the planting and harvesting seasons within each State, as determined by the State, and livestock feed at any time of the year and inserting and livestock feed . 3. Definition of agricultural commodity (a) In general Section 229(e) of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 ( 49 U.S.C. 31136 note; Public Law 106–159 ) is amended by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following: (7) Agricultural commodity The term agricultural commodity has the meaning given the term in section 395.2 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). . (b) Rulemaking Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall revise the definition of the term agricultural commodity in section 395.2 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to include— (1) any nonprocessed product planted or harvested for food, feed, fuel, or fiber; (2) (A) any nonhuman living animal, including— (i) fish; (ii) insects; and (iii) livestock (as defined in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 ( 7 U.S.C. 1471 )); and (B) the nonprocessed products of any nonhuman living animal, including— (i) milk; (ii) eggs; and (iii) honey; (3) nonprocessed forestry, aquacultural, horticultural, and floricultural commodities; (4) fresh or minimally processed fruits and vegetables, including fruits and vegetables that are rinsed, cooled, cut, ripened, or otherwise minimally processed, as determined by the Secretary; and (5) animal feed, including the ingredients of animal feed.