Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill that seeks to keep drivers with commercial licenses off the roads if unable to read and speak the English language sufficiently passed in the House Transportation Subcommittee along party lines on Tuesday in a 7 to 1 vote and will now move to the full House Transportation Committee.
Sponsored by Representative Lowell Russell (R-Vonore-District 21), House Bill 1817 as amended requires that an enforcement officer issue an out-of-service order when commercial drivers are found to not be fluent in English in violation of federal requirements.
According to the bill’s text, commercial drivers would have their licenses suspended if found to be unable “to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.”
The license would remain suspended “until the driver demonstrates an ability to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records… by means of a test administered by the department of safety and not by a third party.”
Companion Senate Bill 1748, sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee today, Wednesday, March 11th.
House Transportation Committee – HB1817 hearing date TBD.
HB1817 seeks to keep drivers with commercial licenses off the roads if unable to read and speak the English language sufficiently.
Rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov; rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.aftyn.behn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov; rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov; rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov; rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.justin.pearson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michele.reneau@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.vital@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov
Senate Transportation and Safety Committee – SB1748 to be heard March 11
SB1748 seeks to keep drivers with commercial licenses off the roads if unable to read and speak the English language sufficiently.
Sen.becky.massey@capitol.tn.gov; sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov; sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov; sen.paul.bailey@capitol.tn.gov; sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov; sen.heidi.campbell@capitol.tn.gov; sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov; sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jessie.seal@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
