A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Household Goods Act of 2009”. The purpose of this act is to regulate intrastate transportation by motor carriers of household goods in such manner as to establish standards for public safety, fair competitive practices, adequate and dependable service, and protection of shippers from deceptive or unfair practices.

B. The provisions of this act, except as specifically limited herein, shall apply to the intrastate transportation of household goods by motor carriers over public highways of this state; and the regulations of such transportation, and the procurement thereof and the provisions of facilities therefor, are hereby vested in the Corporation Commission.

Shipments contracted by the federal government, a state government, a tribal government or any local government or political subdivision thereof shall not be required to obtain a household goods certificate, but shall be regulated by the Commission to achieve compliance with safety requirements and size and weight limitations.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to interfere with the exercise by agencies of the government of the United States of its power of regulation of interstate commerce.

C. As used in this act:

1. "Commission" means the Corporation Commission;

2. "Corporate family" means a group of corporations consisting of a parent corporation and all subsidiaries in which the parent corporation owns directly or indirectly one hundred percent (100%) interest;

3. "Household goods" means used personal effects and property of a dwelling;

4. "Household goods certificate" means a certificate of authority issued by the Corporation Commission to transport household goods within this state;

5. "Intercorporate hauling" means the transportation of household goods, by motor vehicle, for compensation, by a carrier which is a member of a corporate family, as defined in this section, when the transportation for compensation is provided for other members of the corporate family;

6. "Motor carrier of household goods" means a person transporting household goods for compensation or other consideration, with an origin and destination within this state;

7. "Motor vehicle" means any automobile, truck, truck-tractor, trailer or semitrailer or any motor bus or self-propelled vehicle not operated or driven upon fixed rails or tracks;

8. "Person" means any individual, firm, copartnership, limited partnership, corporation, limited liability corporation, company, association, or joint-stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative thereof; and

9. "Public highway" means every public street, road, highway, or thoroughfare in this state, used by the public, whether actually dedicated to the public and accepted by the proper authorities or otherwise.

D. The terms and provisions of this act shall apply to commerce with foreign nations, or commerce among the several states of this Union, insofar as such application may be permitted under the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Acts of Congress.

Added by Laws 2009, c. 183, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009.