113 HR 2505 IH: Motorcoach Safety, Accountability, and Technology Act of 2013 U.S. House of Representatives 2013-06-26 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2505 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 26, 2013 Mrs. Negrete McLeod (for herself and Mrs. Napolitano) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations with respect to motorcoach safety, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Motorcoach Safety, Accountability, and Technology Act of 2013.

2.

Brake performance inspections

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations to ensure that an individual conducts, before each trip of a motorcoach carried out by a provider of motorcoach services, a brake performance inspection for that motorcoach to ensure that the brake performance satisfies all requirements under Federal law.

3.

Brake monitoring systems

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations that— (1)establish minimum performance standards for any electronic system onboard a motorcoach that is used to monitor the performance of an air brake system of that motorcoach; and (2)require that each motorcoach with an air brake system, if manufactured after the date that is 2 years after the effective date of the standards established under paragraph (1), be equipped with such an electronic system.

4.

Automatic emergency braking and collision warning systems

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations requiring that each motorcoach manufactured after the effective date of such regulations be equipped with— (1)an automatic emergency braking system; and (2)a collision warning system.

5.

Lane departure warning systems

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations requiring that each motorcoach manufactured after the effective date of such regulations, and with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, be equipped with a lane departure warning system.

6.

Speed limiting devices

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations requiring that each motorcoach manufactured after the effective date of such regulations be equipped with a device that limits the speed at which the motorcoach may travel to not more than 70 miles per hour.

7.

Additional regulation requirements

In issuing regulations under sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall— (1)require that the technologies mandated for motorcoaches under those sections be tamper resistant; and (2)establish a process for certifying compliance with the regulations.

8.

Retrofitting

(a)

Study

The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study on the feasibility of requiring that motorcoaches, if not manufactured with the technologies referenced in sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this Act, be retrofitted with such technologies. (b)

Report

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).

9.

Regrooved, recapped, and retreaded tires

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations that establish standards for the use of regrooved, recapped, or retreaded tires on a motorcoach.

10.

Motor carrier safety assistance program

Section 31102(b)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (X) and inserting the following: (X)except in the case of an imminent or obvious safety hazard, ensures that an inspection of a vehicle transporting passengers for a motor carrier of passengers is conducted at a station, terminal, border crossing, maintenance facility, destination, weigh station, rest stop, turnpike service area, or a location where adequate food, shelter, and sanitation facilities are available for passengers and reasonable accommodation is available for passengers with disabilities; and .

11.

Definitions

In this Act, the following definitions apply: (1)

Motorcoach

The term motorcoach has the meaning given that term in section 32702(6) of MAP–21, except that the reference in such section to section 3038(a)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 note) shall be treated as referring to such section 3038(a)(3) as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of MAP–21. (2)

Provider of motorcoach services

The term provider of motorcoach services has the meaning given that term in section 32702(10) of MAP–21, except that the term motorcoach, as used in such section, shall be treated as having the meaning given such term under paragraph (1) of this section.