House File 280 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 280 BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 99) A BILL FOR An Act authorizing the department of transportation to 1 renew certain valid commercial driver’s licenses without 2 examination, including by electronic renewal, and including 3 effective date provisions. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1280HV (1) 89 th/ns

H.F. 280 Section 1. Section 321.188, subsection 1, paragraph d, Code 1 2021, is amended to read as follows: 2 d. Successfully pass knowledge tests and driving skills 3 tests, provide self-certification of type of driving, provide a 4 medical examiner’s certificate prepared by a medical examiner, 5 as defined in 49 C.F.R. §390.5 , and provide all other required 6 information, proofs, and certificates, as required by rule by 7 the department. The rules adopted shall substantially comply 8 with the federal minimum testing and licensing requirements 9 in 49 C.F.R. pt. 383, subpts. E, G, and H, as adopted by rule 10 by the department. Except as required under subsection 3 or 11 49 C.F.R. pt. 383, subpt. E, G, or H , a commercial driver’s 12 license is renewable without a knowledge test or driving skills 13 test within one year after its expiration date. 14 Sec. 2. Section 321.196, subsection 4, unnumbered paragraph 15 1, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows: 16 The Except as required in section 321.180 or 321.188, the 17 department in its discretion may authorize the renewal of 18 a valid driver’s license other than a commercial driver’s 19 license or commercial learner’s permit upon application without 20 an examination provided that the applicant meets one of the 21 following conditions: 22 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate 23 importance, takes effect upon enactment. 24 EXPLANATION 25 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 26 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 27 Current law allows the department of transportation (DOT) 28 to authorize the renewal of certain valid driver’s licenses 29 without a knowledge examination, including by electronic 30 renewal, so long as certain conditions are met. In order to be 31 eligible for license renewal without a knowledge examination, 32 the applicant must satisfactorily pass a vision test as 33 prescribed by the DOT, file a vision report in accordance 34 with Code section 321.186A which shows that the applicant’s 35 -1- LSB 1280HV (1) 89 th/ns 1/ 2

H.F. 280 visual acuity level meets or exceeds those required by the DOT, 1 or be eligible for license renewal electronically under the 2 DOT’s administrative rules. An applicant is not eligible for 3 electronic renewal of a driver’s license if the most recent 4 previous renewal of the applicant’s driver’s license occurred 5 electronically. However, commercial driver’s licenses and 6 commercial learner’s permits are specifically excluded from 7 being eligible for renewal without a knowledge examination, 8 including by electronic renewal. 9 This bill enables the DOT to authorize the renewal of certain 10 commercial driver’s licenses and commercial learner’s permits 11 without a knowledge examination, including by electronic 12 renewal, under the conditions set forth in current law. 13 However, applicants seeking renewal for a hazardous material 14 endorsement are still required to pass a knowledge examination 15 in order to obtain or retain the endorsement, pursuant to 16 federal law. 17 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 18 -2- LSB 1280HV (1) 89 th/ns 2/ 2