Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Expanded Trucking Opportunities Act of 2017”.
Veterans Expanded Trucking Opportunities Act of 2017
AN ACT
To expand the Department of Veterans Affairs medical professionals who may qualify to perform physical examinations on eligible veterans and issue medical certificates required for operation of a commercial motor vehicle, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Medical certificate for veterans operating commercial motor vehicles
Qualified examiners— Section 5403(d)(2) of the FAST Act (49 U.S.C. 31149 note; 129 Stat. 1548) is amended to read as follows:
“(2) Qualified examiner—The term “qualified examiner” means an individual who—
“(A) is employed in the Department of Veterans Affairs as an advanced practice nurse, doctor of chiropractic, doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, physician assistant, or other medical professional;
“(B) is licensed, certified, or registered in a State to perform physical examinations;
“(C) is familiar with the standards for, and physical requirements of, an operator required to be medically certified under section 31149 of title 49, United States Code; and
“(D) has never, with respect to such section, been found to have acted fraudulently, including by fraudulently awarding a medical certificate.”
Conforming amendments— Section 5403 of the FAST Act (49 U.S.C. 31149 note; 129 Stat. 1548) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by striking “physician-approved veteran operator,” and inserting “veteran operator approved by a qualified examiner,”; and
by striking “qualified physician” and inserting “qualified examiner”;
in subsection (b)(1)—
by striking “the physician” and inserting “the examiner”; and
by striking “qualified physician” and inserting “qualified examiner”;
in subsection (c)—
by striking “qualified physicians” and inserting “qualified examiners”; and
by striking “such physicians” and inserting “such examiners”; and
in subsection (d)(1)—
in the paragraph heading by striking “Physician-approved veteran operator” and inserting “Veteran operator approved by a qualified examiner”; and
by striking “physician-approved veteran operator” and inserting “veteran operator approved by a qualified examiner”.
Rulemaking— The amendments made by this section shall be incorporated into any rulemaking proceeding related to section 5403 of the FAST Act (49 U.S.C. 31149 note; 129 Stat. 1548) that is being conducted as of the date of enactment of this Act.