Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act”.
Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to modify provisions relating to commercial motor vehicle operator testing requirements, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Commercial motor vehicle operator testing requirements
Testing standards— Section 31305(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (4), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately;
in paragraph (5)—
in subparagraph (B), by redesignating clauses (i) through (iv) as subclauses (I) through (IV), respectively, and indenting the subclauses appropriately; and
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately;
in paragraph (8), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately;
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) as subparagraphs (A) through (H), respectively, and indenting the subparagraphs appropriately;
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated)—
in the second sentence, by striking “The regulations” and inserting the following:
“(2) Requirements—The regulations under paragraph (1)”
in the first sentence, by striking “The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations on” and inserting the following:
“(1) In general—The Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this section as the Secretary) shall prescribe regulations establishing”
by adding at the end the following:
“(3) English language proficiency
“(A) In general—Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations), effective beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act, an individual shall not be eligible to pass a knowledge test, in written, verbal, or automated format, under this subsection, or to receive a certification of fitness to operate a commercial motor vehicle, unless the individual demonstrates the ability to understand in English the basic information needed to effectively operate, and to communicate in English while operating, a commercial motor vehicle, including—
“(i) reading and understanding traffic signs in English;
“(ii) communicating in English with traffic safety officers, border patrol agents, agricultural checkpoint officers, and cargo weight-limit station personnel; and
“(iii) providing and receiving feedback and directions in English.
“(B) Prohibition—Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations), effective beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act, a knowledge test, in written, verbal, or automated format, under this subsection may not be administered in any language other than English.”
Amendment to regulations— The Secretary of Transportation shall modify the regulations contained in part 383 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as the Secretary of Transportation determines to be necessary to implement this section and the amendments made by this section by the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.