To amend title 49, United States Code, to grant the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico eligibility to issue commercial driver's licenses, and for other purposes.
This bill extends federal commercial driver's license (CDL) and safety requirements to bus and truck drivers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The federal government will assist these territories in adopting the new standards and updating their licensing systems. To prevent financial hardship during the transition, the bill establishes a five-year grace period during which the territories will not lose federal highway funding for failing to comply.
The provisions, in plain language.
Applies federal commercial driver's license (CDL) and commercial motor vehicle safety standards to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Subjects the U.S. Virgin Islands to federal highway funding penalties if it fails to comply with federal commercial motor vehicle safety rules.
Requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to assist Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in achieving compliance with federal commercial driver's license laws.
Grants Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands a five-year grace period from highway funding cuts while they work to meet the new commercial driver's license requirements.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin IslandsReceive a five-year grace period protecting them from federal highway funding cuts while they work to meet the new CDL requirements (Sec. 1(d)).
- Governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin IslandsReceive assistance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to help them achieve compliance with federal CDL laws (Sec. 1(c)).
Who it burdens
- Commercial drivers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin IslandsMust comply with federal commercial driver's license (CDL) and commercial motor vehicle safety standards (Sec. 1(a)).
- Governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin IslandsMust implement and enforce federal CDL and safety standards (Sec. 1(a)), and the U.S. Virgin Islands faces potential federal highway funding penalties for non-compliance (Sec. 1(b)).
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety AdministrationRequired to work with and assist Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in achieving compliance with federal CDL laws (Sec. 1(c)).