JEFFERSON CITY — Bills implementing English requirements for commercial vehicle licenses and legalization of firearm silencers were heard in a Senate committee on Monday afternoon.
House Bill 2741, sponsored by Carolyn Caton, R-Blue Springs, would require operators of commercial motor vehicles such as semi-trucks, delivery vans and school buses to speak and read English proficiently.
These drivers would be expected to hold conversations, understand traffic signage, respond to official inquiries and make entries on reports and records in English, Caton explained to the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee.
These requirements are to be consistent with federal motor carrier safety regulations. Any driver who violates these requirements would be prohibited from driving a commercial vehicle until they met the requirements, receive a Class D misdemeanor and would be fined $1000.
Repeat offenders would receive a Class B misdemeanor for their second offense and a Class D felony for any subsequent offense.
The company that owns any commercial vehicle found to be in violation would also be fined $3000 per offense. These carriers would be able to reclaim possession of their vehicle after paying the fine and providing a driver who meets the requirements.
No debate on the bill occurred, and it will now be voted on in committee before moving to the Senate floor.
The committee also heard HB 1730, sponsored by Rep. Mike Costlow, R-Dardenne Prairie.
Current Missouri law states that possessing, manufacturing, transporting, repairing or selling a firearm suppressor is a criminal offense. If passed, the bill would decriminalize these actions in the state.
Firearm suppressors, commonly known as gun silencers, muffle but don’t completely silence the sound of a gun when it’s fired. Costlow said that the use of silencers would help preserve shooters’ hearing.
“We want to make sure we keep Missourians safe,” Costlow said.
The bill also includes a provision that states suppressors manufactured and used completely in Missouri wouldn’t be subject to federal commerce clause regulations. Because of this, Missouri-manufactured and used suppressors wouldn’t have to be registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to the proposed bill.
The committee had no questions for Costlow, and no witness testimony was heard for or against the bill.