| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
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| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to transportation; providing for commercial transportation; establishing a |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 commercial driver training assistance program; appropriating money; amending |
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| 4 | 4 | | 1.4 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 171.01, by adding a subdivision; 171.13, |
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| 5 | 5 | | 1.5 subdivision 8; 171.3213; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, |
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| 6 | 6 | | 1.6 chapter 171. |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.01, is amended by adding a subdivision |
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| 9 | 9 | | 1.9to read: |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1.10 Subd. 45e.Road test."Road test" means the actual physical demonstration of skills and |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1.11ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle. As |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1.12appropriate, a road test includes demonstration of ability to perform an inspection of a |
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| 13 | 13 | | 1.13vehicle and equipment. |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.14 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.13, subdivision 8, is amended to read: |
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| 15 | 15 | | 1.15 Subd. 8.Test scheduling.The commissioner must not schedule or reserve recurring |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1.16time with a public, private, or commercial driver education program for purposes of |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1.17administering skills or road tests to a class D or commercial driver's license applicant. |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1.18 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.3213, is amended to read: |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1.19 171.3213 THIRD-PARTY TESTING OF SCHOOL BUS CERTAIN DRIVERS. |
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| 20 | 20 | | 1.20 (a) A school district that is a third-party testing program and owns or operates school |
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| 21 | 21 | | 1.21buses may enter into an agreement with other school districts to administer the road test for |
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| 22 | 22 | | 1.22the other districts' school bus driver employees. A school bus company that is a third-party |
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| 23 | 23 | | 1Sec. 3. |
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| 24 | 24 | | 25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC |
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| 25 | 25 | | SENATE |
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| 26 | 26 | | STATE OF MINNESOTA |
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| 27 | 27 | | S.F. No. 1834NINETY-FOURTH SESSION |
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| 28 | 28 | | (SENATE AUTHORS: JASINSKI and Howe) |
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| 29 | 29 | | OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE |
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| 30 | 30 | | Introduction and first reading02/24/2025 |
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| 31 | 31 | | Referred to Transportation 2.1testing program and owns or operates school buses may enter into an agreement with other |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2.2school bus companies to administer the road test for the other companies' school bus driver |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2.3employees. |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2.4 (b) A third-party testing program may enter into an agreement with a public, private, or |
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| 35 | 35 | | 2.5commercial driver education program to administer the road test for a commercial driver's |
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| 36 | 36 | | 2.6license, and any necessary associated endorsements, to a student enrolled at the driver |
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| 37 | 37 | | 2.7education program. |
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| 38 | 38 | | 2.8 (c) A third-party testing program that performs testing under this section may be |
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| 39 | 39 | | 2.9reimbursed by the tested driver's school district or, school bus company, or driver education |
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| 40 | 40 | | 2.10program. |
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| 41 | 41 | | 2.11 (d) The agreement under this section must be submitted to the commissioner for approval. |
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| 42 | 42 | | 2.12A certified third-party tester must be employed by a school district or a school bus company |
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| 43 | 43 | | 2.13providing the third-party testing program that provides the testing services. |
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| 44 | 44 | | 2.14 Sec. 4. [171.45] COMMERCIAL DRIVER TRAINING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. |
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| 45 | 45 | | 2.15 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have |
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| 46 | 46 | | 2.16the meanings given. |
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| 47 | 47 | | 2.17 (b) "Award recipient" means an individual who receives an award of financial assistance |
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| 48 | 48 | | 2.18under the program. |
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| 49 | 49 | | 2.19 (c) "CDL training" means education and training for purposes of an individual to operate |
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| 50 | 50 | | 2.20a motor vehicle under a commercial driver's license or related endorsement. |
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| 51 | 51 | | 2.21 (d) "Commercial driver training school" has the meaning given in section 171.33, |
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| 52 | 52 | | 2.22subdivision 1. |
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| 53 | 53 | | 2.23 (e) "Driver training school" means a commercial driver training school or a postsecondary |
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| 54 | 54 | | 2.24school that provides CDL training. |
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| 55 | 55 | | 2.25 (f) "Postsecondary school" means a postsecondary college or university that provides a |
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| 56 | 56 | | 2.26driver education program that is exempt from approval or licensure by the commissioner |
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| 57 | 57 | | 2.27under rules adopted by the commissioner. |
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| 58 | 58 | | 2.28 (g) "Program" means the commercial driver training assistance program established in |
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| 59 | 59 | | 2.29this section. |
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| 60 | 60 | | 2.30 (h) "Registered employer" means an employer that the commissioner has registered as |
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| 61 | 61 | | 2.31a participant in the program. |
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| 62 | 62 | | 2Sec. 4. |
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| 63 | 63 | | 25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 3.1 (i) "Registered provider" means a driver training school that the commissioner has |
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| 64 | 64 | | 3.2registered as a participant in the program. |
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| 65 | 65 | | 3.3 Subd. 2.Program establishment.Subject to available funds, the commissioner must |
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| 66 | 66 | | 3.4implement a commercial driver training assistance program to provide financial support for |
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| 67 | 67 | | 3.5individuals to receive education and training to operate a motor vehicle under a commercial |
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| 68 | 68 | | 3.6driver's license or related endorsement. |
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| 69 | 69 | | 3.7 Subd. 3.Program administration.(a) The commissioner must establish program |
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| 70 | 70 | | 3.8requirements in conformance with this section, which must include but is not limited to: |
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| 71 | 71 | | 3.9 (1) establishing procedures to allocate financial assistance on a first-come, first-served |
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| 72 | 72 | | 3.10basis to: |
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| 73 | 73 | | 3.11 (i) an individual under subdivision 8; or |
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| 74 | 74 | | 3.12 (ii) a motor carrier under subdivision 9; |
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| 75 | 75 | | 3.13 (2) publishing a manual on the program that describes requirements and procedures; |
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| 76 | 76 | | 3.14 (3) establishing standards for calculation of stipends for living expenses; and |
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| 77 | 77 | | 3.15 (4) maintaining functionality and information for the program on the department's website |
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| 78 | 78 | | 3.16that includes: |
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| 79 | 79 | | 3.17 (i) an overview of the program; |
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| 80 | 80 | | 3.18 (ii) a summary of expenditures and awards of financial assistance; |
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| 81 | 81 | | 3.19 (iii) methods for submission of applications under subdivisions 4 to 6; |
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| 82 | 82 | | 3.20 (iv) listings of registered providers and registered employers, with appropriate detail |
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| 83 | 83 | | 3.21and descriptions; and |
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| 84 | 84 | | 3.22 (v) methods for submission of reports under subdivision 11. |
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| 85 | 85 | | 3.23 (b) The commissioner must not expend more than three percent of funds made available |
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| 86 | 86 | | 3.24in a fiscal year under this section on program administration. |
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| 87 | 87 | | 3.25 Subd. 4.Eligibility for assistance.To be eligible to receive financial assistance under |
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| 88 | 88 | | 3.26the program, an individual must: |
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| 89 | 89 | | 3.27 (1) submit an application for financial assistance that is approved by the commissioner, |
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| 90 | 90 | | 3.28which must include: |
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| 91 | 91 | | 3.29 (i) identification of at least two motor carriers with whom the applicant has performed |
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| 92 | 92 | | 3.30a job shadow involving operation of a commercial motor vehicle; and |
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| 93 | 93 | | 3Sec. 4. |
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| 94 | 94 | | 25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 4.1 (ii) a summary of work plans or career pathway goals involving commercial driving; |
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| 95 | 95 | | 4.2 (2) possess a valid Minnesota driver's license; |
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| 96 | 96 | | 4.3 (3) be a citizen of the United States; |
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| 97 | 97 | | 4.4 (4) be a resident of this state; |
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| 98 | 98 | | 4.5 (5) be 18 years of age or older; |
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| 99 | 99 | | 4.6 (6) meet the requirements of an applicant for a class A, class B, or class C commercial |
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| 100 | 100 | | 4.7driver's license under section 171.162; and |
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| 101 | 101 | | 4.8 (7) not have had a driver's license suspended or revoked for a driving-related violation |
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| 102 | 102 | | 4.9within the last five years. |
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| 103 | 103 | | 4.10 Subd. 5.Driver training schools.To be a registered provider, a driver training school |
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| 104 | 104 | | 4.11must: |
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| 105 | 105 | | 4.12 (1) submit a registration application to the commissioner; |
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| 106 | 106 | | 4.13 (2) provide CDL training in compliance with the requirements under Code of Federal |
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| 107 | 107 | | 4.14Regulations, title 49, part 380, subpart F, or successor requirements; |
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| 108 | 108 | | 4.15 (3) be listed on the training provider registry maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier |
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| 109 | 109 | | 4.16Safety Administration; and |
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| 110 | 110 | | 4.17 (4) be in good standing, as determined by the commissioner. |
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| 111 | 111 | | 4.18 Subd. 6.Employers.To be a registered employer, an employer must: |
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| 112 | 112 | | 4.19 (1) submit a registration application to the commissioner; |
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| 113 | 113 | | 4.20 (2) agree to: |
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| 114 | 114 | | 4.21 (i) provide or participate in job shadowing, ride-alongs, and career exploration events; |
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| 115 | 115 | | 4.22and |
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| 116 | 116 | | 4.23 (ii) submit information to the commissioner on individuals and activities involved under |
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| 117 | 117 | | 4.24item (i); |
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| 118 | 118 | | 4.25 (3) offer supplemental driver instruction or another form of entry-level driver support |
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| 119 | 119 | | 4.26for the first year of an award recipient's employment; and |
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| 120 | 120 | | 4.27 (4) unless the employer is self-insured, provide an approval from an insurer that the |
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| 121 | 121 | | 4.28employer may hire a person who has recently obtained a commercial driver's license. |
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| 122 | 122 | | 4.29 Subd. 7.Applications; denials; removals.(a) An application submitted under |
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| 123 | 123 | | 4.30subdivisions 4 to 6 must be in the form and manner specified by the commissioner. |
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| 124 | 124 | | 4Sec. 4. |
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| 125 | 125 | | 25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 5.1 (b) Following a registration application submitted under subdivision 5 or 6, the |
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| 126 | 126 | | 5.2commissioner must register or deny registration for the applicant. On a determination of |
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| 127 | 127 | | 5.3good cause, the commissioner may remove a registered provider or a registered employer. |
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| 128 | 128 | | 5.4The commissioner must establish a process for an applicant, registered provider, or registered |
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| 129 | 129 | | 5.5employer to initiate a review of the denial or removal. |
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| 130 | 130 | | 5.6 Subd. 8.Financial assistance; awards to individuals.(a) The commissioner may only |
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| 131 | 131 | | 5.7award financial assistance to an individual who: |
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| 132 | 132 | | 5.8 (1) meets the requirements under subdivision 4; |
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| 133 | 133 | | 5.9 (2) receives CDL training from a registered provider; and |
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| 134 | 134 | | 5.10 (3) agrees to the terms of financial assistance and repayment established by the |
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| 135 | 135 | | 5.11commissioner as provided under subdivision 10. |
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| 136 | 136 | | 5.12 (b) Subject to available funds, the amount awarded to an individual must equal: |
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| 137 | 137 | | 5.13 (1) the total customarily charged by the registered provider for education and training |
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| 138 | 138 | | 5.14specifically related to a commercial driver's license, which may include but is not limited |
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| 139 | 139 | | 5.15to tuition, books and course materials, and associated fees; plus |
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| 140 | 140 | | 5.16 (2) a stipend for reasonable living expenses, as determined by the commissioner; less |
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| 141 | 141 | | 5.17 (3) any amount of financial aid or deductions that are reasonably applicable to reduce |
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| 142 | 142 | | 5.18the total that would otherwise be charged for the training and education. |
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| 143 | 143 | | 5.19 (c) The commissioner may make payments to an award recipient or to a registered |
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| 144 | 144 | | 5.20provider who provides driver training to an award recipient. |
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| 145 | 145 | | 5.21 Subd. 9.Financial assistance; reimbursement to motor carriers.(a) A motor carrier |
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| 146 | 146 | | 5.22is eligible to receive financial assistance under the program. |
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| 147 | 147 | | 5.23 (b) The commissioner may only provide reimbursement to a motor carrier that: |
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| 148 | 148 | | 5.24 (1) submits a request for reimbursement that is approved by the commissioner; |
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| 149 | 149 | | 5.25 (2) is a private driver training school that provides CDL training and meets the |
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| 150 | 150 | | 5.26requirements under subdivision 5, clauses (2) to (4); |
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| 151 | 151 | | 5.27 (3) is a registered employer; and |
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| 152 | 152 | | 5.28 (4) agrees to the terms of financial assistance and repayment established by the |
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| 153 | 153 | | 5.29commissioner as provided under subdivision 10. |
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| 154 | 154 | | 5.30 (c) Subject to available funds, the amount of reimbursement must equal the costs |
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| 155 | 155 | | 5.31customarily incurred by the motor carrier for CDL training of only those individuals who |
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| 156 | 156 | | 5Sec. 4. |
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| 157 | 157 | | 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 |
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| 158 | 158 | | 6.2limited to instructor salaries, books and course materials, vehicle maintenance and operating |
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| 159 | 159 | | 6.3costs, fuel, and insurance. |
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| 160 | 160 | | 6.4 (d) The reimbursement under paragraph (c) must not exceed $....... per individual. |
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| 161 | 161 | | 6.5 Subd. 10.Financial assistance; terms and repayment.(a) The commissioner must |
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| 162 | 162 | | 6.6establish terms of financial assistance and repayment that include requiring that the applicable |
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| 163 | 163 | | 6.7individual: |
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| 164 | 164 | | 6.8 (1) successfully completes driver training with a registered provider or a motor carrier |
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| 165 | 165 | | 6.9under subdivision 9; |
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| 166 | 166 | | 6.10 (2) is issued a commercial driver's license within six months of training completion |
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| 167 | 167 | | 6.11under clause (1); |
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| 168 | 168 | | 6.12 (3) is employed with one or more registered employers for a total period of at least one |
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| 169 | 169 | | 6.13year in a position that requires a commercial driver's license, which must occur within 24 |
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| 170 | 170 | | 6.14months of training completion under clause (1); and |
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| 171 | 171 | | 6.15 (4) does not lose motor vehicle operating privileges during the period under clauses (1) |
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| 172 | 172 | | 6.16to (3). |
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| 173 | 173 | | 6.17 (b) The commissioner must establish requirements and a schedule for prorated repayment |
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| 174 | 174 | | 6.18of financial assistance for an applicable individual who does not meet the terms under |
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| 175 | 175 | | 6.19paragraph (a). |
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| 176 | 176 | | 6.20 Subd. 11.Reporting.(a) The following entities must submit quarterly reporting |
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| 177 | 177 | | 6.21information in the form and manner specified by the commissioner: |
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| 178 | 178 | | 6.22 (1) an award recipient; |
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| 179 | 179 | | 6.23 (2) a registered provider that provides education and training to an award recipient; |
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| 180 | 180 | | 6.24 (3) a registered employer that employs an award recipient; and |
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| 181 | 181 | | 6.25 (4) a motor carrier that receives financial assistance. |
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| 182 | 182 | | 6.26 (b) Reports are required under paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), during the period that |
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| 183 | 183 | | 6.27an award recipient receives financial assistance. Reports are required under paragraph (a), |
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| 184 | 184 | | 6.28clause (3), for a period of one year following initial hiring of an award recipient. Reports |
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| 185 | 185 | | 6.29are required under paragraph (a), clause (4), for a period of one year following completion |
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| 186 | 186 | | 6.30of driver training. |
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| 187 | 187 | | 6Sec. 4. |
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| 188 | 188 | | 25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC 7.1 Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION; COMMERCIAL DRIVER TRAINING ASSISTANCE |
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| 189 | 189 | | 7.2PROGRAM. |
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| 190 | 190 | | 7.3 (a) $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the |
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| 191 | 191 | | 7.4commissioner of transportation for the commercial driver training assistance program under |
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| 192 | 192 | | 7.5Minnesota Statutes, section 171.45. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until |
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| 193 | 193 | | 7.6June 30, 2028. |
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| 194 | 194 | | 7.7 (b) The commissioner may expend money in the driver and vehicle services technology |
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| 195 | 195 | | 7.8account in the special revenue fund for information systems purposes related to the |
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| 196 | 196 | | 7.9commercial driver training assistance program. |
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| 197 | 197 | | 7Sec. 5. |
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| 198 | 198 | | 25-02333 as introduced01/24/25 REVISOR KRB/AC |
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