Availability of Grant Program Funds for Commercial Driver's License Program Improvements, 27031-27033 [E6-7046]

Agencies

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27031-27033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7046]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration


Availability of Grant Program Funds for Commercial Driver's 
License Program Improvements

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the availability of Commercial 
Driver's License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grant funding as 
authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This act establishes a 
program for the improvement of the commercial driver's license (CDL) 
program. The program is a discretionary grant program funded by a 
single source. It provides funding for improving implementation of the 
State's CDL program, including expenses for computer hardware and 
software, publications, testing, personnel, training, and quality 
control. Grants made under this program may not be used to rent, lease, 
or buy land or buildings. The Agency in each State designated as the 
primary driver licensing agency responsible for the development, 
implementation, and maintenance of the CDL program is eligible to apply 
for and receive grant funding.

DATES: Applications for grant funding should be sent to the FMCSA 
Division Office in the State where the applicant is located no later 
than June 8, 2006. Specific information required with the application 
is provided below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Lloyd Goldsmith, Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration, Office of Safety Programs, Commercial 
Driver's License Division (MC-ESL), 202-366-2964, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Room 8310, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4124 of SAFETEA-LU (Pub. L. 109-59, August 10, 2005, 119 
Stat. 1736) established CDLPI grants to implement the requirements of 
the CDL program created by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 
1986 (CMVSA) and its amending legislation. The goal of the act is to 
improve highway safety by ensuring that drivers of large trucks and 
buses are qualified to operate those vehicles and to remove unsafe and 
unqualified drivers from the highways. The act retained the State's 
right to issue a driver's license but established minimum national 
standards which States must meet when licensing commercial motor 
vehicle (CMV) drivers.
    Congress found that one of the leading factors operating against 
CMV safety was the possession of multiple licenses by commercial 
drivers. Multiple licenses allowed drivers to spread their traffic 
violations over a number of licenses and maintain a ``good driver'' 
rating regardless of the number of violations they may have acquired in 
one or more States. In response to the States' concerns, CMVSA directed 
DOT to establish Federal minimum standards for licensing, testing, 
qualification, and classification of commercial drivers. These 
standards were designed to prohibit commercial drivers from possessing 
more than one commercial license, require that commercial drivers pass 
meaningful written and driving tests, include special qualifications 
for hazardous materials drivers, and establish disqualifications and 
penalties for drivers convicted of the traffic violations specified in 
49 CFR 383.51. States that failed to comply with the requirements 
imposed by DOT would be subject to withholding of a percentage of their 
highway funds. To enable the States to fully implement the provisions 
of the act, Congress required that DOT create a national Commercial 
Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) that would enable the 
States to communicate and exchange driver license information.
    The Agency has been providing grant funds to States to support CDL 
program activities since the inception of the program. CMVSA authorized 
DOT, working in partnership with the States, to assist the States in 
implementation of the CDL program by expending $60 million in order to 
meet the goals established by Congress. These funds were to be used to 
develop the knowledge and skills tests, to create a CDLIS 
telecommunications network connecting all State Departments of Motor 
Vehicles (DMVs), to create national computer software to support each 
State in sharing information between the DMVs, to implement the testing 
and licensing procedures of each State, and to implement in each State 
an information system that would support the program. Congress 
continued to provide funding in subsequent years to continue to improve 
the program or to implement new program initiatives and systems 
enhancements mandated by subsequent legislation.

[[Page 27032]]

SAFETEA-LU Authorization

    The funding being made available in FY2006 through SAFETEA-LU will 
be used to implement new initiatives as well as to continue to make 
related program improvements and build on the successes already 
achieved. SAFETEA-LU authorizes CDLPI through FY2009. The authorized 
funding for the program is $25 million per year. Consistent with the 
provisions of SAFETEA-LU [49 U.S.C. 31313(b)(2)], 10 percent is being 
retained from the amount being made available to support special 
activities and projects relating to CDL and motor vehicle safety that 
are of benefit to all jurisdictions or are designed to address national 
safety concerns and circumstances. An additional 10 percent will be 
retained to address emerging issues relating to CDL improvements [49 
U.S.C. 31313(c)]. Additionally, $200,000 will be withheld in FY2006 and 
in FY2007 to convene a task force to study and address current 
impediments and foreseeable challenges to the CDL program's 
effectiveness and to study and address measures to realize the full 
safety potential of the CDL program [section 4135(d) of SAFETEA-LU].
    Funds are available to any State that complies with or is making a 
good faith effort toward substantial compliance with the requirements 
of 49 U.S.C. 31311 and submits a grant proposal that qualifies under 
the conditions in this notice.

Federal Share

    The Federal share of the funds is established by SAFETEA-LU as 100 
percent. The grant period is in effect from the date the agreement is 
executed until September 30, 2008.

Implementation of CDLPI in FY2006

    FMCSA is implementing the FY2006 CDLPI with the goal of reducing 
the number and severity of CMV crashes in the United States by ensuring 
commercial drivers involved in the transportation of freight and 
passengers are in compliance with all FMCSA regulatory requirements. To 
achieve this goal, FMCSA has established the following national 
priorities for the FY2006 CDLPI, which are designed to bring States 
into full compliance with Federal requirements and improve the 
effectiveness of their programs:
     Improve compliance with CMVSA and its amending 
legislation, including the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) 
of 1999;
     Update CDL knowledge and skills tests to ensure drivers of 
large trucks and buses possess the knowledge and skills necessary to 
operate those vehicles safely;
     Improve the detection and prevention of fraudulent 
activities through better implementation of CDL program management 
control and oversight practices, including the covert monitoring and 
use of automated CDL knowledge testing systems;
     Improve the accuracy, speed, and completeness of driver 
history information exchanged among the various components of the 
system--including law enforcement, prosecutors, the courts, employers, 
and State driver licensing agencies--both within the State and between 
States;
     Improve the accuracy and timely transfer of conviction 
information;
     Increase CDL outreach and training on the importance of 
proper adjudication and sanctioning to the judicial community; and
     Design innovative initiatives to improve the licensing of 
commercial drivers. Additionally, FMCSA will consider CDLPI funding 
requests for research, demonstration projects, public education, and 
other eligible activities and projects relating to commercial driver 
licensing and motor vehicle safety that the States find necessary to 
advance their CDL programs.

State Funding Eligibility Requirements

    All States and the District of Columbia are eligible to receive 
CDLPI funds directly from FMCSA. The Secretary of Transportation may 
make a grant to a State under this section only if it complies with or 
is making a good faith effort toward substantial compliance with the 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 31311. Additionally, the State must agree 
that the total expenditure of amounts of the State and political 
subdivisions of the State, exclusive of amounts from the United States, 
for carrying out the CDL program and related activities and projects 
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 August 10, 2005. 
Also, the State must meet the following six conditions to qualify for 
CDL program grant funds:
     Assume responsibility for adopting and administering State 
safety laws and regulations that are compatible with the Federal CDL 
requirements (49 CFR parts 383 and 384);
     Designate in its CDL priorities proposal the lead State 
CDL agency responsible for implementing the plan;
     Attach to the proposal the aggregate expenditure of funds 
by the State and its political subdivisions, exclusive of Federal funds 
for CDL activities eligible for funding under this part, for the last 
two State fiscal years prior to August 10, 2005;
     Prepare and submit to FMCSA quarterly reports on project 
progress, status, and expenditures as well as a final report at the end 
of the project;
     Adopt and use the reporting standards and forms required 
by FMCSA to record work activities performed under the CDLPI grant 
proposal; and
     Coordinate the CDLPI grant proposal, data collection, and 
information systems with State Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program 
(MCSAP) highway safety and judicial programs.

Application and Selection Process

    Applicants must apply for CDLPI funding using the grants.gov 
electronic application process. To use the process, the applicant must 
have a DUNS number and be registered with grants.gov. To obtain a DUNS 
number or to register with grants.gov, go to http: //www.grants.gov/
GetStartedRoles? type=aor.
    The applicant must download, complete, and submit the grant 
application package. This can be done on the Internet at https://
www.grants.gov/Apply?campaignid= tabnavtracking081105. The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) can be found on the Internet at 
https://www.cfda.gov. The CFDA number for CDLPI is 20.232. It is 
anticipated the grants.gov application process will be available for 
use by CDLPI by May 9, 2006.
    The application package consists of an application form (SF-424 and 
SF-424B) which must be submitted to the Division Administrator of the 
FMCSA Division Office in the State in which the applicant is located 
for approval no later than June 8, 2006. After Division Administrator 
approval, the application package must be submitted on grants.gov.
    If funds remain available after allocations are made for 
applications submitted by June 8, 2006, additional applications may be 
submitted and will be considered for funding until all available funds 
have been allocated.
    In addition to the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and 
Assurances Non-construction Programs (SF-424B), the application package 
must include a grant proposal containing the following components:
     State's self-assessment of its CDL program,
     State's Maintenance of Effort calculation and 
certification,
     Project abstract/description,
     Purpose,

[[Page 27033]]

     Implementation strategies,
     Timeline,
     Performance measures,
     Monitoring and evaluation plan, and
     Detailed budget (OJP Form 7150/1).
    SF-424 and SF-424B can be downloaded from https://www.grants.gov. 
OJP Form 7150/1 can be downloaded from https://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/Forms/
budget_fillable.pdf. Sample forms that provide a suggested format for 
the grant proposal and guidance on how to prepare and submit the 
application package are available on the FMCSA-CDL Workgroups Web site 
at https://www.fmcsa.tmlsupport.com. Once at this Web site, click on 
your State, then click on Other Workgroups, then click on CDL & MCSAP 
National Workgroup, then click on File Sharing, then click on CDL, and 
finally click on Grant Proposal Information--updated for 2006. Each 
State folder on this Web site includes the amount of funds available to 
that State. Addresses of the FMCSA Division Offices are available on 
the Internet at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/contact/offices/
displayfieldroster.asp.
    Funds will be allocated based on availability and on the State's 
needs. Calculation of the amount that may be made available to each 
State will be based on the number of States that apply for the funds, 
the number of Master Pointer Records the State has on CDLIS, and the 
number of CDLIS transactions sent by the State within a 6-month period. 
The grant requests submitted by the States will be reviewed to ensure 
that the proposed activities are consistent with established national 
priorities. Those applicants approved for funding will be required to 
enter into a grant agreement with FMCSA, which will be executed by a 
Division Administrator on behalf of the agency.

    Issued on: May 1, 2006.
Warren E. Hoemann,
Acting Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E6-7046 Filed 5-8-06; 8:45 am]
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