49 U.S.C. § 31313
Section 31313 · Grants for commercial drivers license program improvements
Current version, with additions and removals from the August 10, 2005 version.
(a) Grants for Commercial Driver's License Program Improvements.—
(a) Financial Assistance Program.—
(1) In general.—The Secretary of Transportation shall administer a financial assistance program for commercial driver's license program implementation for the purposes described in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) Purposes for which grants may be used.—
(A) In general.—A State may use grants under paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) only for expenses directly related to its compliance with section 31311; except that a grant under paragraph (1)(B) may be used for improving implementation of the State's commercial driver's license program, including expenses for computer hardware and software, publications, testing, personnel, training, and quality control. The grant may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or buildings.
(B) Priority.—In making grants under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall give priority to States that will use such grants to achieve compliance with the requirements of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, including the amendments made by such Act.
(3) Application.—In order to receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application for such grant that is in such form, and contains such information, as the Secretary may require. The application shall include the State's assessment of its commercial driver's license program.
(4) Maintenance of expenditures.—The Secretary may make a grant to a State under this subsection only if the State agrees that the total expenditure of amounts of the State and political subdivisions of the State, exclusive of amounts from the United States, for the State's commercial driver's license program will be maintained at a level at least equal to the average level of that expenditure by the State and political subdivisions of the State for the last 2 fiscal years of the State ending before the date of enactment of this section.
(5) Government share.—The Secretary shall reimburse a State under a grant made under this subsection an amount that is not more than 100 percent of the costs incurred by the State in a fiscal year in complying with section 31311 and improving its implementation of its commercial driver's license program. In determining such costs, the Secretary shall include in-kind contributions by the State. Amounts required to be expended by the State under paragraph (4) may not be included as part of the non-Federal share of such costs.
(b) High-Priority Activities.—
(i) for computer hardware and software;
(ii) for publications, testing, personnel, training, and quality control;
(iii) for commercial driver's license program coordinators; and
(iv) to implement or maintain a system to notify an employer of an operator of a commercial motor vehicle of the suspension or revocation of the operator's commercial driver's license consistent with the standards developed under section 32303(b) of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 31304 note).
(2) Funding.—The Secretary may deduct up to 10 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year to make grants under this subsection.
(c) Emerging Issues.—The Secretary may designate up to 10 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year for allocation to a State agency, local government, or other person at the discretion of the Secretary to address emerging issues relating to commercial driver's license improvements.
(A) benefit all jurisdictions of the United States;
(B) address national safety concerns and circumstances;
(C) address emerging issues relating to commercial driver's license improvements;
(D) support innovative ideas and solutions to commercial driver's license program issues;
(E) support, in addition to funds otherwise available for such purposes, the recognition, prevention, and reporting of human trafficking; or
(F) address other commercial driver's license issues, as determined by the Secretary.
(b) Prohibitions.—A recipient may not use financial assistance funds awarded under this section to rent, lease, or buy land or buildings.
(c) Report.—The Secretary shall issue an annual report on the activities carried out under this section.
(e) Funding.—For fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2016, this section shall be funded under section 31104.