Improvements to commercial driver’s license training provider registry

Section 31305 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting (referred to in this section as the Secretary) after Secretary of Transportation; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) Training provider registry (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Administration The term Administration means the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (B) Principal place of business The term principal place of business, with respect to a provider, means a single physical business location of the provider where— (i) management officials of the provider report to work; and (ii) the provider conducts a significant portion of its business relating to the training of persons to transport persons or property. (C) Provider The term provider means a training provider (within the meaning of subpart G of part 380 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)). (D) Registry The term registry means the training provider registry maintained by the Administration. (2) Audits (A) In general The Secretary shall establish a process to audit providers listed on the registry to ensure that each provider meets the criteria established by the Secretary to provide training. (B) Role of States The Secretary may require States— (i) to conduct an audit under subparagraph (A); or (ii) to collect relevant information from providers in the State for the Administration to audit. (3) Removal for nondisclosure of certain relationships On complaint or on the initiative of the Secretary, the Secretary may, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard, withhold, suspend, or revoke the registration of any provider listed on the registry if the Secretary finds that the provider failed to disclose any relationship, whether arising from common ownership, management, control, or familial ties, with another provider listed on the registry or with any applicant for inclusion on the registry whom the Secretary has determined to be unwilling or unable to comply with an applicable regulation or order of the Secretary. (4) Expedited removal from registry Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a process for States to remove a provider from the registry if the State determines that the provider— (A) is no longer in business; (B) has been found guilty of committing fraud; or (C) has violated State regulations governing commercial motor vehicle operator training. (5) Registration of providers (A) In general An entity seeking to become a provider in accordance with subsection (c) shall register with the Administration. (B) Principal place of business A provider may not be added to the registry unless the provider has registered a principal place of business with the Administration. (C) Existing providers A provider listed on the registry as of the date of enactment of this subsection— (i) shall register a principal place of business with the Administration by the date that is 1 year after that date of enactment; and (ii) shall be removed from the registry if the provider has not registered a principal place of business with the Administration by the deadline described in clause (i). (6) Deadline for review of complaints against providers Not later than 180 days after receiving a complaint against a provider included on the registry, the Administration shall make a determination with respect to resolving that complaint..