TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE COMPLETION OF A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION COURSE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ricky Hill and 1 co-sponsor

HB 1371 aimed to repeal the human trafficking prevention course requirement for Class A CDL applicants, simplifying licensing but ultimately failed in committee.

Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HB 1371

Title: To Repeal the Requirement for the Completion of a Human Trafficking Prevention Course for the Issuance of a Commercial Driver License

Status: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment

Introduced: February 3, 2025

Sponsors: Representative Wardlaw, Senator Hill (as a cosponsor)

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1371 aimed to repeal the existing requirement that applicants for a Class A commercial driver's license (CDL) complete a human trafficking prevention course. The intent behind this legislation was to eliminate the mandatory training requirement for CDL applicants, which was previously enforced to raise awareness about human trafficking within the trucking industry.

Key Provisions

Repeal of Training Requirement: The bill proposed to remove the stipulation that applicants must complete a human trafficking prevention course administered by the Arkansas State Police or an online course provided by Truckers Against Trafficking.

Impact on Current License Holders: Individuals who already hold a Class A CDL would not need to complete the training again when applying for renewal, provided they had completed the course at least once in the past.

Fiscal and Procedural Impact

Fiscal Impact: The Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) indicated that there would be no significant fiscal impact from the repeal. However, modifications to the Arkansas Integration Revenue System (AIRS) for Driver Service/Motor Vehicle (DSMV) would incur a project cost of approximately $40,000.

Implementation Timeline: The Office of Driver Services requested an implementation date of January 1, 2026, to allow sufficient time for necessary programming changes and updates to related manuals and digital resources.

Training and Notification: Training sessions for relevant state employees and notification to the taxpayer community would be required to ensure a smooth transition following the repeal.

Affected Parties

CDL Applicants: The primary group affected by this bill would be individuals applying for or renewing a Class A commercial driver's license, as they would no longer be required to complete the human trafficking prevention course.

State Agencies: The Department of Finance and Administration and the Office of Driver Services would need to adjust their systems and processes to reflect the repeal.

Legislative Actions

February 3, 2025: Bill filed and referred to the Committee on Public Transportation - House.

February 20, 2025: Amendment No. 1 adopted, and the bill was ordered engrossed.

May 5, 2025: The bill died in the House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

In summary, HB 1371 sought to remove the human trafficking prevention course requirement for CDL applicants, which would have simplified the licensing process but ultimately did not progress through the legislative process.

Bill