BILL NUMBER: AB 1648 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 15, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 24, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 3, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Jeffries and Chesbro
JANUARY 13, 2010
An act to amend Sections 1808.1, 12804.9, and 15278 of, to add
Section 12804.11 to, and to repeal Sections 12954, 15250.6, and
15250.7 of, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1648, as amended, Jeffries. Vehicles: firefighter's operation
of firefighting equipment: driver records.
(1) Existing law prohibits a person from operating firefighting
equipment unless that person has in his or her possession a valid
driver's license for the appropriate class of vehicle operated.
Existing law requires an applicant for a driver's license to
submit to an examination appropriate to the class of vehicle the
applicant desires to drive. Class B vehicles include, among others, a
vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than
26,000 pounds. Successful completion of the examination to drive a
class B vehicle qualifies the person to operate all vehicles covered
under class C. Class C vehicles include, among others, a vehicle with
a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less.
This bill would revise and recast the provisions regulating the
operation of firefighting equipment to permit certain persons
employed as a firefighter or registered as a volunteer firefighter to
operate firefighting equipment with a GVWR of over 26,000
pounds only if the person obtains and maintains
holds a class A, class B, or class C license
, with certain exceptions, and a firefighter endorsement
issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, after providing to the
department proof of current employment or registration as a volunteer
firefighter with a fire department and evidence of fire
equipment operation training, and as
specified, passing the written firefighter examination
developed by the department with the cooperation of the Office
of the State Fire Marshal's office
Marshal, and submitting a report of medical examination on a
department-approved form .
(2) Existing law requires an employer of a driver who drives a
specified vehicle, including a vehicle for which the driver is
required to have a class A or B license, to participate in a
pull-notice system, for the purpose of providing the employer with a
report that shows, among other things, the driver's current public
record as recorded by the department. Existing law requires a fee to
accompany a request to participate in the pull-notice system.
This bill would exempt a fire department, as described, from
paying the requisite fee to participate in the pull-notice system.
The bill would make related changes.
(3) This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section
1808.1 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 2777 to be operative only
if AB 2777 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on
or before January 1, 2011, and this bill is chaptered last.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 1808.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
1808.1. (a) The prospective employer of a driver who drives a
vehicle specified in subdivision (k) shall obtain a report showing
the driver's current public record as recorded by the department. For
purposes of this subdivision, a report is current if it was issued
less than 30 days prior to the date the employer employs the driver.
The report shall be reviewed, signed, and dated by the employer and
maintained at the employer's place of business until receipt of the
pull-notice system report pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c). These
reports shall be presented upon request to an authorized
representative of the Department of the California Highway Patrol
during regular business hours.
(b) The employer of a driver who drives a vehicle specified in
subdivision (k) shall participate in a pull-notice system, which is a
process for the purpose of providing the employer with a report
showing the driver's current public record as recorded by the
department, and any subsequent convictions, failures to appear,
accidents, driver's license suspensions, driver's license
revocations, or any other actions taken against the driving privilege
or certificate, added to the driver's record while the employer's
notification request remains valid and uncanceled. As used in this
section, participation in the pull-notice system means obtaining a
requester code and enrolling all employed drivers who drive a vehicle
specified in subdivision (k) under that requester code.
(c) The employer of a driver of a vehicle specified in subdivision
(k) shall, additionally, obtain a periodic report from the
department at least every 12 months. The employer shall verify that
each employee's driver's license has not been suspended or revoked,
the employee's traffic violation point count, and whether the
employee has been convicted of a violation of Section 23152 or 23153.
The report shall be signed and dated by the employer and maintained
at the employer's principal place of business. The report shall be
presented upon demand to an authorized representative of the
Department of the California Highway Patrol during regular business
hours.
(d) Upon the termination of a driver's employment, the employer
shall notify the department to discontinue the driver's enrollment in
the pull-notice system.
(e) For the purposes of the pull-notice system and periodic report
process required by subdivisions (b) and (c), an owner, other than
an owner-operator as defined in Section 34624, and an employer who
drives a vehicle described in subdivision (k) shall be enrolled as if
he or she were an employee. A family member and a volunteer driver
who drives a vehicle described in subdivision (k) shall also be
enrolled as if he or she were an employee.
(f) An employer who, after receiving a driving record pursuant to
this section, employs or continues to employ as a driver a person
against whom a disqualifying action has been taken regarding his or
her driving privilege or required driver's certificate, is guilty of
a public offense, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by
confinement in a county jail for not more than six months, by a fine
of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that
confinement and fine.
(g) As part of its inspection of bus maintenance facilities and
terminals required at least once every 13 months pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 34501, the Department of the California
Highway Patrol shall determine whether each transit operator, as
defined in Section 99210 of the Public Utilities Code, is then in
compliance with this section and Section 12804.6, and shall certify
each operator found to be in compliance. Funds shall not be allocated
pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 99200) of Part 11 of
Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code to a transit operator that
the Department of the California Highway Patrol has not certified
pursuant to this section.
(h) (1) A request to participate in the pull-notice system
established by this section shall be accompanied by a fee determined
by the department to be sufficient to defray the entire actual cost
to the department for the notification service. For the receipt of
subsequent reports, the employer shall also be charged a fee
established by the department pursuant to Section 1811. An employer
who qualifies pursuant to Section 1812 shall be exempt from any fee
required pursuant to this section. Failure to pay the fee shall
result in automatic cancellation of the employer's participation in
the notification services.
(2) A regularly organized fire department, having official
recognition of the city, county, city and county, or district in
which the department is located , that participates
shall participate in the pull-notice program
, and shall not be subject to the fee
established pursuant to this subdivision.
(i) The department, as soon as feasible, may establish an
automatic procedure to provide the periodic reports to an employer by
mail or via an electronic delivery method, as required by
subdivision (c), on a regular basis without the need for individual
requests.
(j) (1) The employer of a driver who is employed as a casual
driver is not required to enter that driver's name in the pull-notice
system, as otherwise required by subdivision (a). However, the
employer of a casual driver shall be in possession of a report of the
driver's current public record as recorded by the department, prior
to allowing a casual driver to drive a vehicle specified in
subdivision (k). A report is current if it was issued less than six
months prior to the date the employer employs the driver.
(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, a driver is employed as
a casual driver when the employer has employed the driver less than
30 days during the preceding six months. "Casual driver" does not
include a driver who operates a vehicle that requires a passenger
transportation endorsement.
(k) This section applies to a vehicle for the operation of which
the driver is required to have a class A or class B driver's license,
a class C license with a hazardous materials endorsement, a class C
license issued pursuant to Section 12814.7, or a certificate issued
pursuant to Section 2512, 12517, 12519, 12520, 12523, or 12523.5, or
a passenger vehicle having a seating capacity of not more than 10
persons, including the driver, operated for compensation by a
charter-party carrier of passengers or passenger stage corporation
pursuant to a certificate of public convenience and necessity or a
permit issued by the Public Utilities Commission.
(l) This section shall not be construed to change the definition
of "employer," "employee," or "independent contractor" for any
purpose.
(m) A motor carrier who contracts with a person to drive a vehicle
described in subdivision (k) that is owned by, or leased to, that
motor carrier, shall be subject to subdivisions (a), (b), (c), (d),
(f), (j), (k), and ( l ) and the employer obligations in
those subdivisions.
SEC. 1.5. Section 1808.1 of the Vehicle
Code is amended to read:
1808.1. (a) The prospective employer of a driver who drives a
vehicle specified in subdivision (k) shall obtain a report showing
the driver's current public record as recorded by the department. For
purposes of this subdivision, a report is current if it was issued
less than 30 days prior to the date the employer employs the driver.
The report shall be reviewed, signed, and dated by the employer and
maintained at the employer's place of business until receipt of the
pull-notice system report pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c). These
reports shall be presented upon request to an authorized
representative of the Department of the California Highway Patrol
during regular business hours.
(b) The employer of a driver who drives a vehicle specified in
subdivision (k) shall participate in a pull-notice system, which is a
process for the purpose of providing the employer with a report
showing the driver's current public record as recorded by the
department, and any subsequent convictions, failures to appear,
accidents, driver's license suspensions, driver's license
revocations, or any other actions taken against the driving privilege
or certificate, added to the driver's record while the employer's
notification request remains valid and uncancelled
uncanceled . As used in this section, participation in
the pull-notice system means obtaining a requester code and enrolling
all employed drivers who drive a vehicle specified in subdivision
(k) under that requester code.
(c) The employer of a driver of a vehicle specified in subdivision
(k) shall, additionally, obtain a periodic report from the
department at least every 12 months. The employer shall verify that
each employee's driver's license has not been suspended or revoked,
the employee's traffic violation point count, and whether the
employee has been convicted of a violation of Section 23152 or 23153.
The report shall be signed and dated by the employer and maintained
at the employer's principal place of business. The report shall be
presented upon demand to an authorized representative of the
Department of the California Highway Patrol during regular business
hours.
(d) Upon the termination of a driver's employment, the employer
shall notify the department to discontinue the driver's enrollment in
the pull-notice system.
(e) For the purposes of the pull-notice system and periodic report
process required by subdivisions (b) and (c), an owner, other than
an owner-operator as defined in Section 34624, and an employer who
drives a vehicle described in subdivision (k) shall be enrolled as if
he or she were an employee. A family member and a volunteer driver
who drives a vehicle described in subdivision (k) shall also be
enrolled as if he or she were an employee.
(f) An employer who, after receiving a driving record pursuant to
this section, employs or continues to employ as a driver a person
against whom a disqualifying action has been taken regarding his or
her driving privilege or required driver's certificate, is guilty of
a public offense, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by
confinement in a county jail for not more than six months, by a fine
of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that
confinement and fine.
(g) As part of its inspection of bus maintenance facilities and
terminals required at least once every 13 months pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 34501, the Department of the California
Highway Patrol shall determine whether each transit operator, as
defined in Section 99210 of the Public Utilities Code, is then in
compliance with this section and Section 12804.6, and shall certify
each operator found to be in compliance. Funds shall not be allocated
pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 99200) of Part 11 of
Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code to a transit operator that
the Department of the California Highway Patrol has not certified
pursuant to this section.
(h) (1) A request to participate in the
pull-notice system established by this section shall be accompanied
by a fee determined by the department to be sufficient to defray the
entire actual cost to the department for the notification service.
For the receipt of subsequent reports, the employer shall also be
charged a fee established by the department pursuant to Section 1811.
An employer who qualifies pursuant to Section 1812 shall be exempt
from any fee required pursuant to this section. Failure to pay the
fee shall result in automatic cancellation of the employer's
participation in the notification services.
(2) A regularly organized fire department, having official
recognition of the city, county, city and county, or district in
which the department is located, shall participate in the pull-notice
program and shall not be subject to the fee established pursuant to
this subdivision.
(i) The department, as soon as feasible, may establish an
automatic procedure to provide the periodic reports to an employer by
mail or via an electronic delivery method, as required by
subdivision (c), on a regular basis without the need for individual
requests.
(j) (1) The employer of a driver who is employed as a casual
driver is not required to enter that driver's name in the pull-notice
system, as otherwise required by subdivision (a). However, the
employer of a casual driver shall be in possession of a report of the
driver's current public record as recorded by the department, prior
to allowing a casual driver to drive a vehicle specified in
subdivision (k). A report is current if it was issued less than six
months prior to the date the employer employs the driver.
(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, a driver is employed as
a casual driver when the employer has employed the driver less than
30 days during the preceding six months. "Casual driver" does not
include a driver who operates a vehicle that requires a passenger
transportation endorsement.
(k) This section applies to a vehicle for the operation of which
the driver is required to have a class A or class B driver's license,
a class C license with a hazardous materials endorsement, a class C
license issued pursuant to Section 12814.7, or a certificate issued
pursuant to Section 2512, 12517, 12519, 12520,
12523, or 12523.5, or 12527, or
a passenger vehicle having a seating capacity of not more than
10 persons, including the driver, operated for compensation by a
charter-party carrier of passengers or passenger stage corporation
pursuant to a certificate of public convenience and necessity or a
permit issued by the Public Utilities Commission.
( l ) This section shall not be construed to change the
definition of "employer," "employee," or "independent contractor" for
any purpose.
(m) A motor carrier who contracts with a person to drive a vehicle
described in subdivision (k) that is owned by, or leased to, that
motor carrier, shall be subject to subdivisions (a), (b), (c), (d),
(f), (j), (k), and ( l ) and the employer obligations in
those subdivisions.
SEC. 2. Section 12804.9 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
12804.9. (a) (1) The examination shall include all of the
following:
(A) A test of the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the
provisions of this code governing the operation of vehicles upon the
highways.
(B) A test of the applicant's ability to read and understand
simple English used in highway traffic and directional signs.
(C) A test of the applicant's understanding of traffic signs and
signals, including the bikeway signs, markers, and traffic control
devices established by the Department of Transportation.
(D) An actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise
ordinary and reasonable control in operating a motor vehicle by
driving it under the supervision of an examining officer. The
applicant shall submit to an examination appropriate to the type of
motor vehicle or combination of vehicles he or she desires a license
to drive, except that the department may waive the driving test part
of the examination for any applicant who submits a license issued by
another state, territory, or possession of the United States, the
District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico if the
department verifies through any acknowledged national driver record
data source that there are no stops, holds, or other impediments to
its issuance. The examining officer may request to see evidence of
financial responsibility for the vehicle prior to supervising the
demonstration of the applicant's ability to operate the vehicle. The
examining officer may refuse to examine an applicant who is unable to
provide proof of financial responsibility for the vehicle, unless
proof of financial responsibility is not required by this code.
(E) A test of the hearing and eyesight of the applicant, and of
other matters that may be necessary to determine the applicant's
mental and physical fitness to operate a motor vehicle upon the
highways, and whether any grounds exist for refusal of a license
under this code.
(2) The examination for a class A or class B driver's license
under subdivision (b) shall also include a report of a medical
examination of the applicant given not more than two years prior to
the date of the application by a health care professional. As used in
this paragraph, "health care professional" means a person who is
licensed, certified, or registered in accordance with applicable
state laws and regulations to practice medicine and perform physical
examinations in the United States. Health care professionals are
doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physician assistants, and
registered advanced practice nurses, or doctors of chiropractic who
are clinically competent to perform the medical examination presently
required of motor carrier drivers by the federal Department of
Transportation. The report shall be on a form approved by the
department, the federal Department of Transportation, or the Federal
Aviation Administration. In establishing the requirements,
consideration may be given to the standards presently required of
motor carrier drivers by the Federal Highway Administration.
(3) A physical defect of the applicant that, in the opinion of the
department, is compensated for to ensure safe driving ability, shall
not prevent the issuance of a license to the applicant.
(b) In accordance with the following classifications, an applicant
for a driver's license shall be required to submit to an examination
appropriate to the type of motor vehicle or combination of vehicles
the applicant desires a license to drive:
(1) Class A includes the following:
(A) A combination of vehicles, if a vehicle being towed has a
gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.
(B) A vehicle towing more than one vehicle.
(C) A trailer bus.
(D) The operation of all vehicles under class B and class C.
(2) Class B includes the following:
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (H) of paragraph (3), a
single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000
pounds.
(B) A single vehicle with three or more axles, except any
three-axle vehicle weighing less than 6,000 pounds.
(C) A bus except a trailer bus.
(D) A farm labor vehicle.
(E) A single vehicle with three or more axles or a gross vehicle
weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds towing another vehicle with
a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
(F) A house car over 40 feet in length, excluding safety devices
and safety bumpers.
(G) The operation of all vehicles covered under class C.
(3) Class C includes the following:
(A) A two-axle vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of
26,000 pounds or less, including when the vehicle is towing a trailer
or semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds
or less.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a two-axle vehicle weighing
4,000 pounds or more unladen when towing a trailer coach not
exceeding 9,000 pounds gross.
(C) A house car of 40 feet in length or less.
(D) A three-axle vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds gross or less.
(E) A house car of 40 feet in length or less or a vehicle towing
another vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds
or less, including when a tow dolly is used. A person driving a
vehicle may not tow another vehicle in violation of Section 21715.
(F) (i) A two-axle vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds or more unladen
when towing either a trailer coach or a fifth-wheel travel trailer
not exceeding 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, when the
towing of the trailer is not for compensation.
(ii) A two-axle vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds or more unladen when
towing a fifth-wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 pounds, but not
exceeding 15,000 pounds, gross vehicle weight rating, when the
towing of the trailer is not for compensation, and if the person has
passed a specialized written examination provided by the department
relating to the knowledge of this code and other safety aspects
governing the towing of recreational vehicles upon the highway.
The authority to operate combinations of vehicles under this
subparagraph may be granted by endorsement on a class C license upon
completion of that written examination.
(G) A vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross combination
weight rating or a gross vehicle weight rating, as those terms are
defined in subdivisions (j) and (k), respectively, of Section 15210,
of 26,000 pounds or less, if all of the following conditions are met:
(i) Is operated by a farmer, an employee of a farmer, or an
instructor credentialed in agriculture as part of an instructional
program in agriculture at the high school, community college, or
university level.
(ii) Is used exclusively in the conduct of agricultural
operations.
(iii) Is not used in the capacity of a for-hire carrier or for
compensation.
(H) Firefighting equipment with a gross vehicle weight
rating over 26,000 pounds and operated by a person who is required to
have a firefighter endorsement, , provided that the
equipment is operated by a person who holds a firefighter endorsement
pursuant to Section 12804.11.
(I) A motorized scooter.
(J) Class C does not include a two-wheel motorcycle or a
two-wheel motor-driven cycle.
(4) Class M1. A two-wheel motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle.
Authority to operate a vehicle included in a class M1 license may be
granted by endorsement on a class A, B, or C license upon completion
of an appropriate examination.
(5) (A) Class M2 includes the following:
(i) A motorized bicycle or moped, or a bicycle with an attached
motor, except a motorized bicycle described in subdivision (b) of
Section 406.
(ii) A motorized scooter.
(B) Authority to operate vehicles included in class M2 may be
granted by endorsement on a class A, B, or C license upon completion
of an appropriate examination, except that no endorsement is required
for a motorized scooter. Persons holding a class M1 license or
endorsement may operate vehicles included in class M2 without further
examination.
(c) A driver's license or driver certificate is not valid for
operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in subdivision (b)
of Section 15210, any other motor vehicle defined in paragraph (1) or
(2) of subdivision (b), or any other vehicle requiring a driver to
hold any driver certificate or any driver's license endorsement under
Section 15275, unless a medical certificate approved by the
department, the federal Department of Transportation, or the Federal
Aviation Administration, that has been issued within two years of the
date of the operation of that vehicle, is within the licensee's
immediate possession, and a copy of the medical examination report
from which the certificate was issued is on file with the department.
Otherwise, the license is valid only for operating class C vehicles
that are not commercial vehicles, as defined in subdivision (b) of
Section 15210, and for operating class M1 or M2 vehicles, if so
endorsed, that are not commercial vehicles, as defined in subdivision
(b) of Section 15210.
(d) A license or driver certificate issued prior to the enactment
of Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 15200) is valid to operate the
class or type of vehicles specified under the law in existence prior
to that enactment until the license or certificate expires or is
otherwise suspended, revoked, or canceled.
(e) The department may accept a certificate of driving skill that
is issued by an employer, authorized by the department to issue a
certificate under Section 15250, of the applicant, in lieu of a
driving test, on class A or B applications, if the applicant has
first qualified for a class C license and has met the other
examination requirements for the license for which he or she is
applying. The certificate may be submitted as evidence of the
applicant's skill in the operation of the types of equipment covered
by the license for which he or she is applying.
(f) The department may accept a certificate of competence in lieu
of a driving test on class M1 or M2 applications, when the
certificate is issued by a law enforcement agency for its officers
who operate class M1 or M2 vehicles in their duties, if the applicant
has met the other examination requirements for the license for which
he or she is applying.
(g) The department may accept a certificate of satisfactory
completion of a novice motorcyclist training program approved by the
commissioner pursuant to Section 2932 in lieu of a driving test on
class M1 or M2 applications, if the applicant has met the other
examination requirements for the license for which he or she is
applying. The department shall review and approve the written and
driving test used by a program to determine whether the program may
issue a certificate of completion.
(h) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a person holding a valid
California driver's license of any class may operate a short-term
rental motorized bicycle without taking any special examination for
the operation of a motorized bicycle, and without having a class M2
endorsement on that license. As used in this subdivision, "short-term"
means 48 hours or less.
(i) A person under the age of 21 years may not be issued a class
M1 or M2 license or endorsement unless he or she provides evidence
satisfactory to the department of completion of a motorcycle safety
training program that is operated pursuant to Article 2 (commencing
with Section 2930) of Chapter 5 of Division 2.
(j) A driver of a vanpool vehicle may operate with a class C
license but shall possess evidence of a medical examination required
for a class B license when operating vanpool vehicles. In order to be
eligible to drive the vanpool vehicle, the driver shall keep in the
vanpool vehicle a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that he
or she has not been convicted of reckless driving, drunk driving, or
a hit-and-run offense in the last five years.
(k) A class M license issued between January 1, 1989, and December
31, 1992, shall permit the holder to operate any motorcycle,
motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle until the expiration of the
license.
SEC. 3. Section 12804.11 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
12804.11. (a) To operate firefighting equipment with a
gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds , a
driver, including a tiller operator, is required to obtain and
maintain a firefighter endorsement issued by the department and
obtain and maintain a class A,
class B, or class C license. To qualify for a firefighter
endorsement the driver shall do both all
of the following:
(1) Provide to the department proof of current employment or
registration as a volunteer
(1) (A) Provide
to the department proof of current employment as a firefighter or
registration as a volunteer firefighter with a fire department
and evidence of fire equipment operation training by providing a
letter, or other indication, from the chief of the fire department,
or his or her designee.
(B) For purposes of this section, evidence of fire equipment
operation training means the applicant has successfully completed
Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A taught by an instructor registered
with the Office of the State Fire Marshal or fire department driver
training that meets all of the following requirements:
(i) Meets or exceeds the standards outlined in NFPA 1002, Chapter
4 (2008 version) or the Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A course
adopted by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
(ii) Prepares the applicant to safely operate the department's
fire equipment that the applicant will be authorized to operate.
(iii) Includes a classroom (cognitive) portion of at least 16
hours.
(iv) Includes a manipulative portion of at least 14 hours, which
includes directly supervised behind-the-wheel driver training.
(C) Driver training shall be conducted by a person who is
registered with the Office of the State Fire Marshal to instruct
Driver/Operator 1A or a person who meets all of the following
criteria:
(i) Possesses a minimum of five years of fire service experience
as an emergency vehicle operator, three of which must be at the rank
of engineer or higher.
(ii) Possesses a valid California class A or B license or a class
A or B license restricted to the operation of firefighting equipment.
(iii) Is certified as a qualified training instructor or training
officer by the State of California, the federal government, or a
county training officers' association.
(2) Pass the written firefighter examination developed by the
department with the cooperation of the State Fire Marshal's office.
(3) Submit a report of medical examination on a form approved by
the department. The report shall be dated within the two years
preceding the application date.
(b) There shall be no additional charge for adding a firefighter
endorsement to an original license or when renewing a license. To add
a firefighter endorsement to an existing license when not renewing
the license, the applicant shall pay the fee for a duplicate license
pursuant to Section 14901.
(c) (1) A driver of firefighting equipment is subject to the
requirements of subdivision (a) if both of the following conditions
exist:
(A) The equipment is operated by a person employed as a
firefighter by a federal or state agency, by a regularly organized
fire department of a city, county, city and county, or district, or
by a tribal fire department or registered as a volunteer member of a
regularly organized fire department having official recognition of
the city, county, city and county, or district in which the
department is located, or of a tribal fire department.
(B) The motor vehicle , with a gross vehicle weight
rating above 26,000 pounds, is used to travel to and from
the scene of any emergency situation, or to transport equipment used
in the control of any emergency situation, and which is owned,
leased, or rented by, or under the exclusive control of, a federal or
state agency, a regularly organized fire department of a city,
county, city and county, or district, a volunteer fire department
having official recognition of the city, county, city and county, or
district in which the department is located, or a tribal fire
department.
(2) A driver of firefighting equipment is not required to obtain
and maintain a firefighter endorsement pursuant to subdivision (a) if
the driver is operating the firefighting equipment for training
purposes, during a nonemergency, while under the direct supervision
of a fire department employee who is properly licensed to operate the
equipment and is authorized by the fire department to provide
training.
(d) For purposes of this section, a tiller operator is the driver
of the rear free-axle portion of a ladder truck.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a regularly organized fire
department, having official recognition of the city, county, city and
county, or district in which the department is located, may require
an employee or a volunteer of the fire department who is a driver or
operator of firefighting equipment to hold a class A or B license.
(e)
(f) This section applies to a person hired by a fire
department, or to a person renewing a driver's license, on or after
January 1, 2011.
SEC. 4. Section 12954 of the Vehicle Code is repealed.
SEC. 5. Section 15250.6 of the Vehicle Code is repealed.
SEC. 6. Section 15250.7 of the Vehicle Code is repealed.
SEC. 7. Section 15278 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
15278. (a) A driver is required to obtain an endorsement issued
by the department to operate any commercial motor vehicle that is any
of the following:
(1) A double trailer.
(2) A passenger transportation vehicle, which includes, but is not
limited to, a bus, farm labor vehicle, or general public paratransit
vehicle when designed, used, or maintained to carry more than 10
persons including the driver.
(3) A schoolbus.
(4) A tank vehicle.
(5) A vehicle carrying hazardous materials, as defined in Section
353, that is required to display placards pursuant to Section 27903,
unless the driver is exempt from the endorsement requirement as
provided in subdivision (b). This paragraph does not apply to any
person operating an implement of husbandry who is not required to
obtain a driver's license under this code.
(b) This section does not apply to any person operating a vehicle
in an emergency situation at the direction of a peace officer
pursuant to Section 2800.
SEC. 8. Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates
amendments to Section 1808.1 of the Vehicle Code proposed by both
this bill and AB 2777. It shall only become operative if (1) both
bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2011,
(2) each bill amends Section 1808.1 of the Vehicle Code, and (3) this
bill is enacted after AB 2777, in which case Section 1 of this bill
shall not become operative.