
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC31148]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
                           PART B--COMMERCIAL
 
              CHAPTER 311--COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
 
                    SUBCHAPTER III--SAFETY REGULATION
 
Sec. 31148. Certified motor carrier safety auditors

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
complete a rulemaking to improve training and provide for the 
certification of motor carrier safety auditors, including private 
contractors, to conduct safety inspection audits and reviews described 
in subsection (b).
    (b) Certified Inspection Audit Requirement.--Not later than 1 year 
after completion of the rulemaking required by subsection (a), any 
safety inspection audit or review required by, or based on the authority 
of, this chapter or chapter 5, 313, or 315 of this title and performed 
after December 31, 2002, shall be conducted by--
        (1) a motor carrier safety auditor certified under subsection 
    (a); or
        (2) a Federal or State employee who, on the date of the 
    enactment of this section, was qualified to perform such an audit or 
    review.

    (c) Extension.--If the Secretary determines that subsection (b) 
cannot be implemented within the 1-year period established by that 
subsection and notifies the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives of the determination and 
the reasons therefor, the Secretary may extend the deadline for 
compliance with subsection (b) by not more than 12 months.
    (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.

(Added Pub. L. 106-159, title II, Sec. 211(a), Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 
1765.)

                       References in Text

    The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsecs. 
(a) and (b)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 106-159, which was 
approved Dec. 9, 1999.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 31144 of this title.
