WASHINGTON A model state law has been developed to streamline or eliminate legal and bureaucratic hurdles that hamper bus and truck companies when they provide assistance during disasters in neighboring states.

The National Conference of State Legislatures published the model law that would enable states to clear the way more effectively for motor carriers and others to enter a state to deal with tragedies.

The proposed law recognizes not only that motor carriers may have problems with licensing, fuel tax and credentials when they cross state lines to help in emergencies, but that all types of businesses whose employees are engaged in such assistance may also have issues with state rules on tax nexus, payroll taxes, withholding and other requirements.

The model law would enable businesses to enter a state without establishing "presence, residency, nor doing business in the state nor any other criteria for purposes of state and local taxes, licensing and regulatory requirements."

The provisions of the law would be triggered by and in effect for 60 days following a governors proclamation of emergency, or the presidents declaration of a major federal disaster or emergency.

The National Conference of State Legislatures cautions that like all such laws, the model likely would have to be amended to fit a given states existing legislative framework.

One shortcoming of the model law is that it does not necessarily resolve problems for motor carriers that arise for them in the states that lie between their base and a disaster, especially when their vehicles attempt to return home.

In the past, there have been two or three thorny issues motorcoach operators have sometimes bumped up against in disaster situations, including the nexus for taxation question and employee withholding.

There are federal laws that are supposed to protect interstate drivers, but states oft-times ignore them.

The model law can be found on-line at http://www.ncsl.org/documents/standcomm/sccomfc/DISASTERMODELLEGISLATION.pdf.