(1) DEFINITION. In this section, “department” means the department of transportation. (2) REPORT ON BILLS ESTABLISHING VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMIT EXCEPTIONS. (a) If any bill that is introduced in either house of the legislature directly or indirectly establishes an exception to the vehicle weight limits specified in ch. 348, the department shall prepare a report on the bill within 6 weeks after it is introduced. The department shall request information from any individual, organization or local government that the department considers likely to be affected by the proposed vehicle weight limit exceptions. Individuals, organizations and local governments shall comply with requests by the department for information that is reasonably necessary for the department to prepare the report. To the greatest extent possible, reports under this section shall be based on the information obtained by the department from individuals, organizations and local governments under this paragraph. (b) A bill that requires a report by the department under this section shall have that requirement noted on its jacket when the jacket is prepared. When a bill that requires a report under this section is introduced, the legislative reference bureau shall submit a copy of the bill to the department. (c) The report prepared under this section shall be printed as an appendix to that applicable bill and shall be distributed in the same manner as amendments. The report shall be distributed before any vote is taken on the bill by either house of the legislature if the bill is not referred to a standing committee, or before any public hearing is held before any standing committee or, if no public hearing is held, before any vote is taken by the committee. (3) FINDINGS OF THE DEPARTMENT TO BE CONTAINED IN THE REPORT. The report of the department shall contain the following information with respect to each exception to a vehicle weight limit specified in ch. 348: (a) A statement of the problem addressed by the proposed vehicle weight limit exception, including all of the following: 1. Whether the current vehicle weight limit creates a hardship and, if so, the degree of the hardship. 2. The costs associated with complying with the current vehicle weight limit and any anticipated savings likely to result from the proposed vehicle weight limit exception. 3. Whether any other efforts have been made to resolve the problem addressed by the proposed vehicle weight limit exception. 4. The degree of control by motor carriers over the weight and weight distribution of the vehicle or load. (b) A description of the proposed vehicle weight limit exception, including any changes on all of the following: 1. Gross weight limitations and gross axle and axle combination weight limitations. 2. Width, height and length limitations. 3. The transportation of particular commodities. 4. Any highway, highway route or area of the state substantially affected by the proposed vehicle weight limit exception. 5. Seasonal transportation patterns. (c) Any other special considerations concerning the proposed vehicle weight limit exception, such as the frequency of use of the proposed exception, the support and involvement of businesses, industries and local authorities affected by the proposed exception. (4) RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY. The department may promulgate any rules necessary for the administration of this section.
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