Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to extend the duration of commercial learner's permits.

Amends existing law to provide for reinstatement of a commercial driver's license under certain circumstances.

Currentlywhenapersonwithacommercialdriver'slicense(CDL)isconvictedofcertainoffenses, federalcode requires a lifetime disqualification of the individual. This means that these individuals can never again obtain a commercial driver's license. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has adopted new rules that allow jurisdictions the ability to reinstate commercial drivers with lifetime disqualification offenses, after ten years have elapsed. It requires states to have a rehabilitation program in order to permit jurisdictions the ability to allow these drivers to again obtain their commercial driving privileges after an initial ten-year period, but does not specify what the rehabilitation program must include. This proposal is for Idaho to implement a program that would include criteria such as a clean driving record for the past 3 years, completion of online defensive driving classes for driving safety, truck driver safety, and successful completion of knowledge and skills testing. Thisproposalprovideseconomicopportunityforcommercialdriverswhoseeklicensureafterservingaten-year qualification period and will help increase the number of CDL drivers as shortages persist.