Section 2 amends, in the Drivers' Licenses chapter of law, the definition of "hazardous materials" to incorporate citations to the current applicable federal definition.

Section 3 requires a driver's licensee with a school bus endorsement to have a passenger endorsement as well.

Section 4 exempts military commercial vehicle drivers from a commercial driver's license requirement whether or not the vehicle is owned by or leased to the federal government. Current law affords the exemption only for the operation of vehicles owned by or leased to the federal government.

Section 5 directs the commissioner to disqualify a person from operating commercial motor vehicles after an implied consent revocation, for a period equivalent in duration to federal regulations pertaining to DWI or test refusal convictions.

Section 6 requires a commercial motor vehicle operator to notify Driver and Vehicle Services, within 30 days, of a criminal or traffic violation (other than a parking violation) committed in another state in any vehicle. Notification of a traffic violation of a Minnesota law, committed in any vehicle, must be given by the commercial vehicle operator to the operator's employer within 30 days of the conviction. Notification must be in writing and contain identification information and information about the offense.

Section 7 requires an employee within the meaning of federal regulations (a commercial vehicle operator) to report to the person's employer within one business day any suspension, revocation, or cancellation of a Minnesota driver's license, or any disqualification in any jurisdiction of the right to operate a commercial motor vehicle.

Section 8 defines in the Motor Carriers chapter of statutes, "out-of-service order" by adopting the federal definition.

Section 9 adds railroad-highway grade crossing violations to the violations for which the commissioner may issue an administrative order and impose civil penalties.

Section 10 allows the commissioner to assess a penalty against a commercial vehicle driver's employer who knowingly allows an employee to operate the vehicle in violation of railroad-highway grade crossing law.

Section 11 clarifies the enforcement powers of transportation and hazardous material program specialists to include police power to place commercial vehicle drivers out of service.

Section 12 authorizes the State Patrol to enforce the North American uniform out-of-service criteria and issue out-of-service orders.

Section 13 authorizes patrol employees who are not troopers to enforce the North American uniform out-of-service criteria and issue out-of-service orders.

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