(a)(1) Effective July 10, 2010, except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a person convicted of a crime that requires registration as a sex offender under Chapter 20A of Title 15, formerly Article 2 of Chapter 20 of Title 15 is prohibited from driving a commercial motor vehicle that requires a commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement.

(2) If a person who is registered as a sex offender pursuant to Chapter 20A of Title 15, formerly Article 2 of Chapter 20 of Title 15 on July 10, 2010, has a valid commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement that was issued on or before July 10, 2010, then the person is not disqualified under this subsection until that license expires, provided the person does not commit a subsequent offense that requires registration as a sex offender under Chapter 20A of Title 15, formerly Article 2 of Chapter 20 of Title 15.

(b) The department shall revoke the commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement of any person convicted of any offense on or after July 10, 2010, that requires registration as a sex offender under Chapter 20A of Title 15, formerly Article 2 of Chapter 20 of Title 15.

(c)(1) Effective July 10, 2010, the department shall not issue or renew a commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement to any person who is required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 20A of Title 15, formerly Article 2 of Chapter 20 of Title 15.

(2) The department shall not issue a commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement to an applicant until the department has searched both the statewide registry and the National Sex Offender Public Registry to determine if the person is currently registered as a sex offender in this state or another state.

(3) If the department finds that the person is currently registered as a sex offender in either this state or another state, the department shall not issue a commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement to the person.

(4) If the department is unable to access either the statewide registry or all information of other states contained in the National Sex Offender Public Registry, but the person is otherwise qualified to obtain a commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement, then the department shall issue the commercial driver license with the P or S endorsement, but shall first require the person to sign an affidavit stating that the person does not appear on either the statewide registry or the National Sex Offender Public Registry. The department shall search the statewide registry and the National Sex Offender Public Registry for the person within a reasonable time after access to the statewide registry or the National Sex Offender Public Registry is restored. If the person does appear in either registry, the person is in violation of this section, and the department shall immediately cancel the commercial driver license and shall promptly notify the district attorney of the circuit where the person resides of the offense.

(5) Any person denied a commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement pursuant to this subsection shall have a right to file an appeal to the department within 30 days thereafter for a hearing in the matter. The department shall set the matter for a hearing within 30 days in order to take testimony and examine the facts of the case and determine whether the petitioner is entitled to a commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement under this subsection.

(6) Any person who makes a false affidavit, or who knowingly swears or affirms falsely, to any matter or thing required by this section to be affirmed to or sworn is guilty of a Class C felony.

(d) A person who drives a commercial passenger vehicle or a school bus and who does not have a valid commercial driver license with a P or an S endorsement because the person was convicted of a violation that requires registration as a sex offender under Chapter 20A of Title 15, formerly Article 2 of Chapter 20 of Title 15 is guilty of a Class C felony.