MONTGOMERY — On Thursday, the Alabama House passed a bill requiring commercial driver's license holders to be proficient in English.
State Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) presented Senate Bill 242 on the House floor, saying it would align state law with federal regulations.
The bill requires drivers with a commercial driver's license from a foreign government to show valid proof of entry documentation to operate within the state and sets penalties for violations, including presenting a false foreign commercial driver's license and operating a commercial motor vehicle without proper documentation.
State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) took issue with the bill, arguing it could negatively impact ethnic minorities.
"This is an attack on those individuals who are considered to be of illegal immigrancy [sic] or to be perceived thereof," she said. "This is also another way, instead of ICE coming to your door, my friends, this is a way for the police, when they stop you, to say you should not be here, and then you can be charged… My process would be simple. If they are stopped, turn them over to the feds and be through. But we're now adding an extra layer."
She continued, "I know my little Latino friends and immigrant friends are gonna get mad, but 48% of them voted for Trump. Forty-eight percent of Latino immigrant men voted for Trump, 48%. That's a whole lot of votes… I'm just here to simply say, there are black people who look like me who may not be naturalized citizens here in the country. I am very sensitive about these issues only because there was a man who ran for the presidency of the United States of America and had the audacity to say that black Haitians were eating damn, eating darn dogs and cats."
Mark Colson, president and CEO of Alabama Trucking, praised the bill, saying it would help save lives.
"Alabama's law enforcement agency is a national leader in highway safety, and this SB 242 will give them additional tools to keep illegal operators off the road," Colson said. "This bill will save lives and help create a fair and level playing field in Alabama. Most of the solutions to root out bad actors in trucking are being implemented uniformly at federal level as outlined a national action plan called Trucking Resurgence. This bill is an important state component that aligns with federal law and increases penalties for lawbreakers."
The bill now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey's desk to await her signature.
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