MONDAY MORNING MESSENGER
January 13, 2020
In Brief
Did any of you attempt to register for the FMCSA Clearinghouse last week? Did you experience technical difficulties? In this issue of the Monday Morning Messenger , find out what to do if you are having trouble registering for the new Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse in our Top Story .

Also, we have seen the commercials, but is there really unclaimed property and funds you can get from the state? The answer is yes, for some of you. Learn more about it in our second story of the morning.

Also, catch up on Regulatory Alerts & Updates you have missed, find out how in our third story of the morning.

Lastly, marketers are always looking for ways to diversify their business and grow gallons. Well, the school bus market maybe that way, one school bus can burn up to 2,000 gallons in a year. Right now, there is a statewide grant that will pay for 80% of a new propane school bus. Learn how your school districts can apply. They must act fast; funds will not last long.
MEMBERS ONLY
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
In this issue
  • In Brief
  • Top Story
  • Unclaimed Funds
  • Regulatory Alerts & Updates
  • Gallon Grower
CALENDAR

January 8-16, 2020

January 16, 2020

January 23-24, 2020

January 24, 2020
TCEQ TERP Grantees
Annual Reports Due
Top Story
Are You Experiencing Technical Difficulties With the FMCSA Clearinghouse?
January 6, 2020 marked the date CDL employers were required to start using the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse website.

CDL employers are only required to use the Clearinghouse when
  1. Hiring a new driver for a pre-employment drug and alcohol record search for new employee applicants, on or after January 6, 2020
  2. Once a year to run a query on a CDL driver for drug & alcohol violations (this can be anytime in 2020).

January 6, 2020 is the compliance deadline, not a registration deadline.

That said the FMCSA has been experiencing technical issues due to high volume of traffic and users.

FMCSA has posted the following notice : If you are an employer currently experiencing technical difficulties accessing the Clearinghouse and are unable to conduct required pre-employment queries, you may hire a driver using solely the procedures set forth in 49 CFR 391.23(e) ( Basically, what you did before the clearinghouse went into effect, previous employment history last 3 years ).

Once FMCSA has determined and announced that users are able to access the Clearinghouse, pre-employment queries must also be conducted as required by section 382.701(a) .
Business Finance
Some of You Have Unclaimed Property
Due to You from the State of Texas
Since 1963, the State of Texas has required institutions, businesses and governmental entities to report to the state any personal property that has been unclaimed for up to five years, depending on the property in question.

Unclaimed property can be abandoned assets. Some examples:
  • dividend, payroll or cashier's checks
  • stocks, bonds or mutual fund accounts
  • utility deposits and other refunds
  • bank accounts and safe deposit box contents
  • insurance proceeds
  • mineral interest or royalty payments
  • court deposits, trust funds or escrow accounts
  • overpayments on insurance, utilities and other bills
  • Unclaimed property does not include real estate or vehicles.

There is no statute of limitations for unclaimed property. Funds reported will remain with Comptroller indefinitely until returned to their rightful owner.

One our members brought to our attention that recently had some unclaimed funds due to them that they found on the Claim It Texas site operated by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.Perusing the website, some propane companies have unclaimed funds, they may be able to claim.

Visit the site below to search for unclaimed property/funds, claim property/funds and submit property/funds to be claimed.
Regulatory Spotlight
Are You Scared You Have Missed
a Regulatory Alert or Update?
No worries we got you covered two ways. If you missed one, two or more Monday Morning Messengers , don't fret their all online. Also we've plucked the most newsworthy Regulatory Alerts from the Messenger have them isolated on our website in their own section.

Visit our MEMBERS ONLY section to view recent Monday Morning Messengers and Regulatory Alerts.

Forgot the password, give us a call.
Gallon Grower
Statewide (Anywhere in Texas)
Clean School Bus Grant Is Officially Open
The statewide Clean School Bus Program administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) under the TERP Program is NOW OPEN . It was set up to open by the end of 2019, the program officially kicked off later than expected, just last week.

Funds are expected to go very quickly because it is STATEWIDE .

Schools must replace a pre-2007 (2006 or older) diesel school bus. That should not be a problem because school districts usually keep their buses for 12-15 years. Schools can expect can receive up to 80% of the cost of the new propane school bus.

It only costs about $7,000 to upgrade to a propane school bus, so the rest is icing for school districts.

Read more about the program and other opportunities for Texas school districts in the January 2020 Texas Propane magazine.