An Oklahoma resident seeking a hazardous materials endorsement on his or her driver’s license would be required to submit to a criminal background check under a bill approved by state House lawmakers.

The bill – HB1899 – sponsored by Rep. John Nance, R-Bethany, passed the House March 1 by a 69-29 vote. It has been forwarded to the Senate.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation or the Federal Bureau of Investigation would perform the records check.

House lawmakers accepted an amendment that would require the Department of Public Safety to notify every commercial driving school of the proposed new law, and commercial driving schools would be required to notify their prospective students of the hazardous material endorsement requirement.

Nance said in a statement that the bill would bring Oklahoma into compliance with federal regulations that govern truck drivers.

The bill would also require men ages 16 to 25 to consent to sending their information to the Selective Service System when applying for a driver’s license.