Senate Bill 1748 amends Tennessee law regarding commercial driver licenses by introducing new requirements related to English language proficiency. It adds a provision stating that a driver may be deemed unable to hold a commercial driver license if they cannot read and speak English sufficiently to communicate with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to inquiries, and complete required reports. However, an exemption is provided for drivers who can read and write in English but may not speak it well, provided they have documentation of a hearing impairment exemption.

The bill also establishes that if a driver is found unable to meet these language requirements during a safety inspection, they will receive an out-of-service order, preventing them from operating their vehicle until a qualified substitute driver is present. Additionally, employers are held liable for fines related to the suspension or reinstatement of a driver's license due to these language proficiency issues. The legislation mandates the development of an English language proficiency test by the department of safety, which must be passed for reinstatement of a suspended license. The act will take effect upon becoming law for rule promulgation and on January 1, 2027, for all other provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55-50-403, 55-50-405, 65-15-111