Commercial motor vehicles: commercial driver's license program: federal compliance.

(1) Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to adopt those standards required of drivers by the Federal Highway Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, as set forth in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 and to reduce or prevent commercial motor vehicle accidents, fatalities, and injuries by permitting drivers to hold only one license, disqualifying drivers for certain criminal offenses and serious traffic violations, and strengthening licensing and testing standards. Existing law disqualifies a driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle for one year if the driver is convicted of a serious traffic violation involving a commercial or noncommercial motor vehicle occurring within 3 years of conviction of a separate serious traffic violation. Operating a vehicle while disqualified is a crime. This bill would make changes to the requirements applicable to the holding of commercial driver's licenses regarding, among other things, medical certifications, military exemptions, out-of-service order violations, and violations occurring in other jurisdictions, to conform to federal law. This bill would make other changes to ensure compliance with federal regulations, including, among other things, adding second and subsequent convictions for texting while driving as a serious traffic violation, which disqualifies a driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a specified time period. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would also make technical and conforming changes and delete obsolete references in these provisions. (2) This bill would also incorporate additional changes to Section 12804.9 of the Vehicle Code proposed by SB 1310, to become operative only if SB 1310 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2013, and this bill is chaptered last. (3) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 15250 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 2659, to become operative only if AB 2659 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2013, and this bill is chaptered last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.