Establishes a municipal exemption from commercial driver's license requirements when the vehicle utilized is owned or leased by a city, town, village, or county when such vehicle is operated by a municipal employee solely for intrastate governmental purposes.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10185A
SPONSOR: Blankenbush TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
a municipal exemption from commercial driver's license requirements
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill creates a targeted exemption from CDL requirements for munici-
pal operations such as snow and ice removal, highway maintenance, utili-
ties, and emergency response. Municipal employees must still pass a New
York State administered or approved driving skills and safety examina-
tion, and municipalities must maintain internal training and certif-
ication programs.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 509-hh to read as follows:
509-hh. Municipal exemption from commercial driver's license require-
ments.
1. Exemption Authorized. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the
contrary, a commercial driver's license shall not be required for the
operation of a motor vehicle owned or leased by a city, town, village,
or county when such vehicle is operated by a municipal employee solely
for intrastate governmental purposes.
2. Covered Operations.
(a) snow and ice control;
(b) highway, road, bridge, or right-of-way maintenance;
(c) water, sewer, or public utility maintenance;
(d) emergency or disaster response; and
(e) such other substantially similar governmental functions as approved
by the commissioner.
3. State Testing Requirement.
Municipal employees operating under the exemption authorized by this
section shall be required to successfully complete a motor vehicle
skills and safety examination administered or approved by the depart-
ment, appropriate to the class and type of vehicle operated.
4. Municipal Training and Certification.
Municipalities utilizing the exemption authorized by this section shall
establish and maintain internal driver training and certification
programs, including:
(a) written training standards;
(b) behind-the-wheel instruction;
(c) periodic refresher training; and
(d) certification by a designated municipal supervisor.
5. State Oversight.
The commissioner may promulgate regulations establishing minimum safety
and testing standards for municipal training programs under this
section, provided such standards shall not require possession of a
commercial driver's license.
6. Construction.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the operation of a
motor vehicle in violation of any other applicable traffic or safety
law.
JUSTIFICATION:
Municipalities, particularly in rural and upstate regions, face work-
force shortages driven by CDL requirements designed for commercial
trucking. By retaining state testing while allowing local training and
certification, this legislation balances public safety with practical
workforce realities.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10185--A
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BLANKENBUSH -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
a municipal exemption from commercial driver's license requirements
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 section 509-qq to read as follows:
3 § 509-qq. Municipal exemption from commercial driver's license
4 requirements. 1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a
5 commercial driver's license shall not be required for the operation of a
6 motor vehicle owned or leased by a city, town, village, or county when
7 such vehicle is operated by a municipal employee solely for intrastate
8 governmental purposes.
9 2. For the purposes of this section, the following municipal oper-
10 ations shall be covered:
11 (a) snow and ice control;
12 (b) highway, road, bridge, or right-of-way maintenance;
13 (c) water, sewer, or public utility maintenance;
14 (d) emergency or disaster response; and
15 (e) such other substantially similar governmental functions as
16 approved by the commissioner.
17 3. Municipal employees operating under the exemption authorized by
18 this section shall be required to successfully complete a motor vehicle
19 skills and safety examination administered or approved by the depart-
20 ment, appropriate to the class and type of vehicle operated.
21 4. Municipalities utilizing the exemption authorized by this section
22 shall establish and maintain internal driver training and certification
23 programs, including:
24 (a) written training standards;
25 (b) behind-the-wheel instruction;
26 (c) periodic refresher training; and
27 (d) certification by a designated municipal supervisor.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14466-03-6
A. 10185--A 2
1 5. The commissioner may promulgate regulations establishing minimum
2 safety and testing standards for municipal training programs under this
3 section, provided such standards shall not require possession of a
4 commercial driver's license.
5 6. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the operation
6 of a motor vehicle in violation of any other applicable traffic or safe-
7 ty law.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
