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[Federal Register: May 9, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 89)]
[Notices]
[Page 27031-27033]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09my06-139] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 http://www.grants.gov/Apply?campaignid=tabnavtracking081105. The Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) can be found on the Internet at
http://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 http://www.grants.gov OJP Form 7150/1 can be downloaded from http://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 http://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 http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/contact/offices/displayfieldroster.aspx. 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] BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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