Prohibiting the use of a language other than English for class C commercial driver’s license examinations

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 class C commercial driver’s license (CDL) examinations.3(1) as class A CDL, class B CDL, and class C CDL. A class C CDL is valid for a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 26,001 pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR. A class C CDL applies only to vehicles that are required to be placarded for hazardous materials or vehicles that are designed to transport 16 or more persons including the driver, or any redesigned or modified vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001 or more pounds that has been redesigned or modified to transport less than 16 persons with disabilities. The bill also prohibits the DOT or designated third parties from using a language other than English to examine an applicant for a class C CDL.