Declaration of state of emergency; exemption of drivers of utility service vehicles from certain requirements

(a) Upon application by any utility, the division of emergency management may declare a state of emergency in all or any part of the state whenever conditions exist which constitute an emergency, as defined in 49 C.F.R. 390.5, as in effect on the effective date of this act or such later version as adopted by rules and regulations of the state corporation commission pursuant to K.S.A. 66-1,129, and amendments thereto, subject to the following: (1) The state of emergency shall be deemed to exist solely for the purpose of exempting drivers of utility service vehicles, as defined in 49 C.F.R. 395.2, as in effect on the effective date of this act or such later version as adopted by rules and regulations of the state corporation commission pursuant to K.S.A. 66-1,129, and amendments thereto, from limitations on hours of service prescribed by rules and regulations of the state corporation commission; and (2) the exemption shall be subject to the conditions and limitations provided by 49 C.F.R. 390.23, as in effect on the effective date of this act or such later version as adopted by rules and regulations of the state corporation commission pursuant to K.S.A. 66-1,129, and amendments thereto, for exemptions pursuant to that regulation. (b) The adjutant general may adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section. (c) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas emergency management act.