Transportation: omnibus bill.

(1) Existing law prohibits a person holding a class A, class B, or class C driver's license from operating a vehicle hauling fissile class III shipments or large quantity radioactive materials, as defined, unless the person possesses both a valid license of the appropriate class and a radioactive materials driver's certificate issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles that permits the person to operate the vehicle. Existing law requires an applicant for that certificate to present evidence to the Department of Motor Vehicles that he or she has successfully completed the radioactive materials hauler driving training course. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a certificate only to an applicant who has paid a $12 examination fee to the Department of Motor Vehicles and who has qualified by passing the examination. This bill would delete the existing examination and certificate requirement and instead prohibit a person holding a class A, class B, or class C driver's license from operating a vehicle hauling highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials, as defined, unless the person possesses both a valid license of the appropriate class and a certificate of training, as required under specified federal law. (2) Existing law generally prohibits a person from operating a commercial motor vehicle unless that person possesses both a valid commercial driver's license for the appropriate class and an endorsement issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles to permit the operation of the vehicle. Existing law exempts a person with at least a class C driver's license who is employed in an agricultural operation and is driving a vehicle, as specified, that is controlled by a farmer and transporting agricultural products or farm machinery or supplies to or from a farm from that endorsement requirement if specified conditions are met, including, but not limited to, successfully completing an agricultural hazardous materials transportation program offered or approved by the Department of the California Highway Patrol and carrying a verification of training, valid for 4 years, and paying a $12 fee to forward a copy of this verification to the Department of Motor Vehicles for inclusion on the person's permanent driving record. This bill would delete the requirement to complete an agricultural hazardous materials transportation program offered or approved by the Department of the California Highway Patrol and instead require a person seeking to operate a commercial motor vehicle to fulfill the applicable training requirements under specified federal law. The bill would require that person, upon successful completion of these training requirements, to forward a record of current training and a completed application to the Department of the California Highway Patrol. (3) This bill would also delete references to obsolete provisions and make other technical and clarifying changes. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 12810.2 of the Vehicle Code proposed by SB 20 and would make these changes be operative only if this bill and SB 20 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. (4) Under existing law, a violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. Because this bill would impose new requirements and prohibitions on operators of certain vehicles, a violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) 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.