SSRS No Longer in Effect
As mentioned in our December 13 Legislative Update, the 109th Congress did not pass the FY 2007 DOT Appropriations bill that contained language extending SSRS to January 1, 2008. Therefore, the January 1, 2007 SSRS expiration date as specified in SAFETEA-LU applies and SSRS is no longer in place. For-hire carriers are not being issued an SSRS receipt for 2007.
SAFETEA-LU also specified that a new Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCR) replace SSRS. This UCR would establish a new carrier fee structure replacing SSRS fees and provide states with replacement revenue. Under SSRS, states collectively received $100 million.
However, as you are aware, the new UCR plan is not yet in place. This means that states are no longer receiving revenue, that in large part, is used for important motor carrier safety programs. It is likely that at some point in 2007, a new UCR plan will be completed. Until that time, states will suffer the loss of significant revenue. After the plan is developed, a number of states will have to enact enabling legislation adopting the new UCR before receiving this SSRS replacement revenue.
The current circumstances will be discussed at the upcoming UCR Board meeting in Phoenix, Arizona on January 15. The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Washington representative, Chris Mele, will attend this meeting and provide the Board with a legislative overview of the new Congress, and discuss the likelihood of obtaining legislative language making SSRS effective for the rest of 2007 so that states will not continue to suffer the lose of revenue used for motor carrier safety programs.
We will keep you advised on developments at the upcoming UCR Board meeting and other issues pertaining to the new Unified Carrier Registration Plan.
For your information we have also attached a memorandum on this issue from Avelino Gutierrez, Chairman of the UCR Board.
