A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow nonresidents to obtain a north carolina commercial drivers license or learners permit and to change the period of training required for a commercial drivers license.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑37.13 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(f)	Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a person who is not a resident of this State, who is enrolled in a commercial truck driver training school located in this State, may be issued a commercial driver learner's permit if the person holds a valid drivers license from another state and has passed the knowledge test for the class and type of commercial motor vehicle the person will be driving. A permit issued pursuant to this subsection is valid for a period not to exceed 60 days and may not be renewed or reissued. The fee for a commercial driver learner's permit under this subsection is the same as the fee set by G.S. 20‑7 for a regular learner's permit."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 20‑37.14 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑37.14.  Nonresident commercial driver license.
(a)	The Division may issue a nonresident commercial driver license (NRCDL) to a resident of a foreign jurisdiction if the United States Secretary of Transportation has determined that the commercial motor vehicle testing and licensing standards in the foreign jurisdiction do not meet the testing standards established in 49 C.F.R., Part 383. The word "Nonresident" must appear on the face of the NRCDL. An applicant must surrender any NRCDL issued by another state. Prior to issuing a NRCDL, the Division shall establish the practical capability of revoking, suspending, or canceling the NRCDL and disqualifying that person with the same conditions applicable to the commercial driver license issued to a resident of this State.
(b)	Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the Division may issue a nonresident commercial driver license (NRCDL) to a resident of a foreign jurisdiction who has completed the entire 160 hours of training required by G.S. 20‑322(c) at a commercial truck driver training school located and licensed in this State and has a valid commercial driver learner's permit, issued pursuant to G.S. 20‑37.13(f), at the time of application. The word "Nonresident" must appear on the face of the NRCDL. A commercial driver license issued pursuant to this subsection shall be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance and may not be renewed or reissued. The NRCDL shall become immediately invalid upon issuance of a commercial drivers license to the applicant by another state."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 20‑322 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(c)	Instruction provided by a commercial truck driver training school shall consist of 160 hours of instruction completed in no less than three calendar weeks."
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2005.