Transportation: omnibus bill.

(1) Existing law establishes the Transportation Agency of Monterey County to provide regional transportation planning and development for the area of the County of Monterey. Existing law authorizes the agency to be known by any other name it chooses. This bill would change each reference to the "Transportation Agency of Monterey County" in code to the "Transportation Agency for Monterey County." (2) Existing law, as of January 1, 2024, prohibits a person who fails to comply with a court order to attend traffic violator school from being assessed an additional penalty, as specified. This bill would ensure that related provisions are consistent with that provision. The bill would also make technical changes. (3) Existing law requires the clerk of a court in which a person was convicted of a violation of the Vehicle Code, or other specified provisions related to the safe operation of a vehicle, to prepare and immediately forward to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) an abstract of the record, as specified. Existing law requires the DMV, until January 1, 2027, to take prescribed actions upon the receipt of notification of specific violations. This bill would ensure that related provisions are, commencing January 1, 2027, consistent with those provisions. (4) 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 specified, 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 prohibits a person from operating a commercial motor vehicle unless that person has in their immediate possession a valid commercial driver's license of the appropriate class, and requires an applicant to pass a written and driving test for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle that complies with specified minimum federal standards and meets other prescribed requirements. This bill would make changes to the commercial driving license provisions to ensure compliance with federal regulations including, among other things, prohibiting a driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle for the rest of their life if convicted of using a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving an act or practice of severe forms of human trafficking, as specified. The bill would require a court to report specified convictions that occurred while the person was using a commercial motor vehicle to the DMV. (5) Existing law requires the Department of the Highway Patrol (CHP) to regulate the safe operation of certain vehicles, including, but not limited to, motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, truck tractors, and specified other motortrucks regulated by the DMV, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation. This bill would instead require the CHP to regulate the safe operation of any other motortruck regulated by the DMV, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation. (6) Existing law implements the Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program, which makes it unlawful for a motor carrier to operate specified vehicles, such as motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, truck tractors, or specified other motortrucks regulated by the DMV, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation, without identifying to the CHP all terminals, as defined, where the vehicle may be inspected and where vehicle inspection and maintenance records and driver records will be made available for inspection. Existing law requires the CHP to adopt rules and regulations establishing a performance-based truck terminal inspection selection priority system. Existing law provides that the CHP is not required to inspect a terminal subject to inspection more than once every 6 years if a terminal receives a satisfactory compliance rating, as specified, or if the CHP has not received notification by the system of a motor carrier operating while exceeding the threshold of the inspection selection priority system. This bill would make these vehicle inspection requirements inapplicable to any other motortrucks regulated by the DMV, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation, as specified. This bill would delete the requirement that the CHP adopt the rules and regulations establishing a performance-based truck terminal inspection selection priority system. The bill would provide that the CHP is not required to inspect a terminal subject to inspection after a terminal receives a satisfactory compliance rating, as specified. (7) Existing law requires a motor carrier operating specified vehicles, such as those described above, to have its vehicles inspected at least every 90 days to ensure safe operation. Existing law requires a motor carrier to retain records of these inspections at the motor carrier's terminals for 2 years and to make the records available for inspection upon request by any authorized employee of the CHP. This bill would make these vehicle inspection requirements inapplicable to any other motortrucks regulated by the DMV, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation, as specified.