1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to transportation; providing for commercial transportation; establishing a
1.3 commercial driver training assistance program; appropriating money; amending
1.4 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 171.01, by adding a subdivision; 171.13,
1.5 subdivision 8; 171.3213; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
1.6 chapter 171.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.9to read:
1.10 Subd. 45e.Road test."Road test" means the actual physical demonstration of skills and
1.11ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle. As
1.12appropriate, a road test includes demonstration of ability to perform an inspection of a
1.13vehicle and equipment.
1.14 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.13, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
1.15 Subd. 8.Test scheduling.The commissioner must not schedule or reserve recurring
1.16time with a public, private, or commercial driver education program for purposes of
1.17administering skills or road tests to a class D or commercial driver's license applicant.
1.18 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.3213, is amended to read:
1.19 171.3213 THIRD-PARTY TESTING OF SCHOOL BUS CERTAIN DRIVERS.
1.20 (a) A school district that is a third-party testing program and owns or operates school
1.21buses may enter into an agreement with other school districts to administer the road test for
1.22the other districts' school bus driver employees. A school bus company that is a third-party
1Sec. 3.
25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1834NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: JASINSKI and Howe)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/24/2025
Referred to Transportation 2.1testing program and owns or operates school buses may enter into an agreement with other
2.2school bus companies to administer the road test for the other companies' school bus driver
2.3employees.
2.4 (b) A third-party testing program may enter into an agreement with a public, private, or
2.5commercial driver education program to administer the road test for a commercial driver's
2.6license, and any necessary associated endorsements, to a student enrolled at the driver
2.7education program.
2.8 (c) A third-party testing program that performs testing under this section may be
2.9reimbursed by the tested driver's school district or, school bus company, or driver education
2.10program.
2.11 (d) The agreement under this section must be submitted to the commissioner for approval.
2.12A certified third-party tester must be employed by a school district or a school bus company
2.13providing the third-party testing program that provides the testing services.
2.14 Sec. 4. [171.45] COMMERCIAL DRIVER TRAINING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
2.15 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
2.16the meanings given.
2.17 (b) "Award recipient" means an individual who receives an award of financial assistance
2.18under the program.
2.19 (c) "CDL training" means education and training for purposes of an individual to operate
2.20a motor vehicle under a commercial driver's license or related endorsement.
2.21 (d) "Commercial driver training school" has the meaning given in section 171.33,
2.22subdivision 1.
2.23 (e) "Driver training school" means a commercial driver training school or a postsecondary
2.24school that provides CDL training.
2.25 (f) "Postsecondary school" means a postsecondary college or university that provides a
2.26driver education program that is exempt from approval or licensure by the commissioner
2.27under rules adopted by the commissioner.
2.28 (g) "Program" means the commercial driver training assistance program established in
2.29this section.
2.30 (h) "Registered employer" means an employer that the commissioner has registered as
2.31a participant in the program.
2Sec. 4.
25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 3.1 (i) "Registered provider" means a driver training school that the commissioner has
3.2registered as a participant in the program.
3.3 Subd. 2.Program establishment.Subject to available funds, the commissioner must
3.4implement a commercial driver training assistance program to provide financial support for
3.5individuals to receive education and training to operate a motor vehicle under a commercial
3.6driver's license or related endorsement.
3.7 Subd. 3.Program administration.(a) The commissioner must establish program
3.8requirements in conformance with this section, which must include but is not limited to:
3.9 (1) establishing procedures to allocate financial assistance on a first-come, first-served
3.10basis to:
3.11 (i) an individual under subdivision 8; or
3.12 (ii) a motor carrier under subdivision 9;
3.13 (2) publishing a manual on the program that describes requirements and procedures;
3.14 (3) establishing standards for calculation of stipends for living expenses; and
3.15 (4) maintaining functionality and information for the program on the department's website
3.16that includes:
3.17 (i) an overview of the program;
3.18 (ii) a summary of expenditures and awards of financial assistance;
3.19 (iii) methods for submission of applications under subdivisions 4 to 6;
3.20 (iv) listings of registered providers and registered employers, with appropriate detail
3.21and descriptions; and
3.22 (v) methods for submission of reports under subdivision 11.
3.23 (b) The commissioner must not expend more than three percent of funds made available
3.24in a fiscal year under this section on program administration.
3.25 Subd. 4.Eligibility for assistance.To be eligible to receive financial assistance under
3.26the program, an individual must:
3.27 (1) submit an application for financial assistance that is approved by the commissioner,
3.28which must include:
3.29 (i) identification of at least two motor carriers with whom the applicant has performed
3.30a job shadow involving operation of a commercial motor vehicle; and
3Sec. 4.
25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 4.1 (ii) a summary of work plans or career pathway goals involving commercial driving;
4.2 (2) possess a valid Minnesota driver's license;
4.3 (3) be a citizen of the United States;
4.4 (4) be a resident of this state;
4.5 (5) be 18 years of age or older;
4.6 (6) meet the requirements of an applicant for a class A, class B, or class C commercial
4.7driver's license under section 171.162; and
4.8 (7) not have had a driver's license suspended or revoked for a driving-related violation
4.9within the last five years.
4.10 Subd. 5.Driver training schools.To be a registered provider, a driver training school
4.11must:
4.12 (1) submit a registration application to the commissioner;
4.13 (2) provide CDL training in compliance with the requirements under Code of Federal
4.14Regulations, title 49, part 380, subpart F, or successor requirements;
4.15 (3) be listed on the training provider registry maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier
4.16Safety Administration; and
4.17 (4) be in good standing, as determined by the commissioner.
4.18 Subd. 6.Employers.To be a registered employer, an employer must:
4.19 (1) submit a registration application to the commissioner;
4.20 (2) agree to:
4.21 (i) provide or participate in job shadowing, ride-alongs, and career exploration events;
4.22and
4.23 (ii) submit information to the commissioner on individuals and activities involved under
4.24item (i);
4.25 (3) offer supplemental driver instruction or another form of entry-level driver support
4.26for the first year of an award recipient's employment; and
4.27 (4) unless the employer is self-insured, provide an approval from an insurer that the
4.28employer may hire a person who has recently obtained a commercial driver's license.
4.29 Subd. 7.Applications; denials; removals.(a) An application submitted under
4.30subdivisions 4 to 6 must be in the form and manner specified by the commissioner.
4Sec. 4.
25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 5.1 (b) Following a registration application submitted under subdivision 5 or 6, the
5.2commissioner must register or deny registration for the applicant. On a determination of
5.3good cause, the commissioner may remove a registered provider or a registered employer.
5.4The commissioner must establish a process for an applicant, registered provider, or registered
5.5employer to initiate a review of the denial or removal.
5.6 Subd. 8.Financial assistance; awards to individuals.(a) The commissioner may only
5.7award financial assistance to an individual who:
5.8 (1) meets the requirements under subdivision 4;
5.9 (2) receives CDL training from a registered provider; and
5.10 (3) agrees to the terms of financial assistance and repayment established by the
5.11commissioner as provided under subdivision 10.
5.12 (b) Subject to available funds, the amount awarded to an individual must equal:
5.13 (1) the total customarily charged by the registered provider for education and training
5.14specifically related to a commercial driver's license, which may include but is not limited
5.15to tuition, books and course materials, and associated fees; plus
5.16 (2) a stipend for reasonable living expenses, as determined by the commissioner; less
5.17 (3) any amount of financial aid or deductions that are reasonably applicable to reduce
5.18the total that would otherwise be charged for the training and education.
5.19 (c) The commissioner may make payments to an award recipient or to a registered
5.20provider who provides driver training to an award recipient.
5.21 Subd. 9.Financial assistance; reimbursement to motor carriers.(a) A motor carrier
5.22is eligible to receive financial assistance under the program.
5.23 (b) The commissioner may only provide reimbursement to a motor carrier that:
5.24 (1) submits a request for reimbursement that is approved by the commissioner;
5.25 (2) is a private driver training school that provides CDL training and meets the
5.26requirements under subdivision 5, clauses (2) to (4);
5.27 (3) is a registered employer; and
5.28 (4) agrees to the terms of financial assistance and repayment established by the
5.29commissioner as provided under subdivision 10.
5.30 (c) Subject to available funds, the amount of reimbursement must equal the costs
5.31customarily incurred by the motor carrier for CDL training of only those individuals who
5Sec. 4.
25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 6.1meet the requirements under subdivision 4, clauses (2) to (7), which include but are not
6.2limited to instructor salaries, books and course materials, vehicle maintenance and operating
6.3costs, fuel, and insurance.
6.4 (d) The reimbursement under paragraph (c) must not exceed $....... per individual.
6.5 Subd. 10.Financial assistance; terms and repayment.(a) The commissioner must
6.6establish terms of financial assistance and repayment that include requiring that the applicable
6.7individual:
6.8 (1) successfully completes driver training with a registered provider or a motor carrier
6.9under subdivision 9;
6.10 (2) is issued a commercial driver's license within six months of training completion
6.11under clause (1);
6.12 (3) is employed with one or more registered employers for a total period of at least one
6.13year in a position that requires a commercial driver's license, which must occur within 24
6.14months of training completion under clause (1); and
6.15 (4) does not lose motor vehicle operating privileges during the period under clauses (1)
6.16to (3).
6.17 (b) The commissioner must establish requirements and a schedule for prorated repayment
6.18of financial assistance for an applicable individual who does not meet the terms under
6.19paragraph (a).
6.20 Subd. 11.Reporting.(a) The following entities must submit quarterly reporting
6.21information in the form and manner specified by the commissioner:
6.22 (1) an award recipient;
6.23 (2) a registered provider that provides education and training to an award recipient;
6.24 (3) a registered employer that employs an award recipient; and
6.25 (4) a motor carrier that receives financial assistance.
6.26 (b) Reports are required under paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), during the period that
6.27an award recipient receives financial assistance. Reports are required under paragraph (a),
6.28clause (3), for a period of one year following initial hiring of an award recipient. Reports
6.29are required under paragraph (a), clause (4), for a period of one year following completion
6.30of driver training.
6Sec. 4.
25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 7.1 Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION; COMMERCIAL DRIVER TRAINING ASSISTANCE
7.2PROGRAM.
7.3 (a) $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the
7.4commissioner of transportation for the commercial driver training assistance program under
7.5Minnesota Statutes, section 171.45. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until
7.6June 30, 2028.
7.7 (b) The commissioner may expend money in the driver and vehicle services technology
7.8account in the special revenue fund for information systems purposes related to the
7.9commercial driver training assistance program.
7Sec. 5.
25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC