HF 2100 (LSB 5251YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2100

BY  A. MEYER

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting the use of a language other than English for commercial driver’s license examinations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 1.18, subsection 5, paragraph i, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   i.  Any oral or written communications, examinations, or publications, other than examinations for a commercial driver’s license, produced or utilized by a driver’s license station, provided public safety is not jeopardized.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.187, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The department shall examine applicants for driver’s licenses.  The department, a third-party test examiner, or a third-party tester shall not use a language other than English to examine an applicant for a commercial driver’s license. Examiners of the department shall wear an identifying badge and uniform provided by the department.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, the English language is the official language of the state of Iowa. All official documents, regulations, orders, transactions, proceedings, programs, meetings, publications, or actions taken or issued, which are conducted or regulated by, or on behalf of, or representing Iowa and all of its political subdivisions are required to be in the English language. However, there are exceptions to this requirement, including communications, examinations, and publications produced or utilized by driver’s license stations.
   This bill provides that the driver’s license examination exception does not apply to commercial driver’s license (CDL) examinations. The bill also prohibits the department of transportation or designated third parties from using a language other than English to examine an applicant for a CDL.