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Legislature advances bill allowing military commercial‑driver certification to qualify for Guam chauffeur endorsements
Summary
Bill 84‑38 would let Revenue and Taxation grant chauffeur endorsements on Guam licenses when veterans verify federal military driver certification; the bill adds safeguards including veteran verification, testing if certification is older than five years, and a 120‑day rulemaking mandate.
Senator Jesse Lujan (presenting the bill as introducer on the floor) moved to place Bill 84‑38 on the third‑reading file and explained the measure would allow Guam’s Department of Revenue and Taxation (DRT), in consultation with the Office of Veterans Affairs, to grant a chauffeur endorsement on a Guam driver’s license when an applicant holds a verified military commercial‑driver certification.
Why it matters: Proponents said the measure eases veterans’ transition to civilian employment that requires commercial‑driver qualifications by recognizing U.S. military driver training. The amended version adopted in committee adds verification and anti‑fraud provisions and allows DRT to require road testing if the military certificate is more than five years old.
The floor presentation explained the bill’s mechanics: verification of a DD‑214 (or NGB‑22 for National Guard) by Guam Veterans Affairs; authority for DRT to require additional documentation or a road test for stale certifications; and a 120‑day rulemaking deadline after enactment to create an equivalency matrix and documentation protocol. The oversight committee chair reported that amendments were adopted to guard against fraud, require documentation to support endorsement eligibility, and create a re‑testing rule for certificates older than five years. The chair said the amendment “aligns with the best practices used by commercial licensing and federal CDL waivers.”
Outcome: The body ordered Bill 84‑38, as amended, to third reading without objection. The bill’s sponsor asked that the committee chair be added as a cosponsor on the floor; the request was granted.
What’s next: If the measure is enacted, DRT and the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs will draft the verification processes and rules; DRT will promulgate implementing regulations within 120 days as required by the amendment.
