Bill > HB1817

This bill revises laws concerning commercial driver licenses in Tennessee, specifically addressing situations where a driver cannot sufficiently read and speak English to perform their duties safely, as required by federal regulations (49 CFR 391.11(b)(2)). If an enforcement officer finds a driver unable to meet these English language requirements during a safety inspection, they must issue an "out-of-service order," meaning the driver cannot operate the commercial vehicle until a qualified substitute driver is found. This order also prevents the vehicle from moving. The bill clarifies that this requirement does not apply if a driver is unable to speak English but can read and write it, and has obtained an exemption for a hearing impairment (49 CFR 391.41(b)(11)). Furthermore, a commercial driver's license will be suspended if they are issued such an out-of-service order or are otherwise found to be unable to meet the English language proficiency standards, and the suspension will only be lifted once the driver passes the written commercial driver's license test in English. The bill's effective date is contingent on federal action that allows Tennessee to implement these changes without jeopardizing federal funding.