113 STAT. 1766 PUBLIC LAW 106-159—DEC. 9, 1999 Deadline. 49 USC 31305 note. Regulations. "(d) APPLICATION WITH OTHER AUTHORITY.— The Secretary may not delegate the Secretary's authority to private contractors to issue ratings or operating authority, and nothing in this section authorizes any private contractor to issue ratings or operating authority. "(e) OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY. — The Secretary shall have authority over any motor carrier safety auditor certified under subsection (a), including the authority to decertify a motor carrier safety auditor.". (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.— The analysis for such chapter 311 is amended by adding at the end the following: "31148. Certified motor carrier safety auditors.". SEC. 212. COMMERCIAL VAN RULEMAKING. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete Department of Transportation's rulemaking. Docket No. FHWA-99-5710, to amend Federal motor carrier safety regulations to determine which motor carriers operating commercial motor vehicles designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation shall be covered. At a minimum, the rulemaking shall apply such regulations to— (1) commercial vans commonly referred to as "camionetas"; and (2) those commercial vans operating in interstate commerce outside commercial zones that have been determined to pose serious safety risks. In no case should the rulemaking exempt from such regulations all motor carriers operating commercial vehicles designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation. SEC. 213. 24-HOUR STAFFING OF TELEPHONE HOTLINE. Section 4017 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 31143 note; 112 Stat. 413) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: "(c) STAFFING.— The toll-free telephone system shall be staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week by individuals knowledgeable about Federal motor carrier safety regulations and procedures."; and (3) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this section)— (A) by striking "104(a)" and inserting "104(a)(1)(B)"; and (B) by striking "for each of fiscal years 1999" and inserting "for fiscal year 1999 and $375,000 for each of fiscal years 2000". SEC. 214. CDL SCHOOL BUS ENDORSEMENT. The Secretary shall conduct a rulemaking to establish a special commercial driver's license endorsement for drivers of school buses. The endorsement shall, at a minimum— (1) include a driving skills test in a school bus; and (2) address proper safety procedures for— (A) loading and unloading children; (B) using emergency exits; and (C) traversing highway rail grade crossings.
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