[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1739 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1739
To authorize grants to improve security on over-the-road buses.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 28, 2001
Mr. Cleland introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize grants to improve security on over-the-road buses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EMERGENCY OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 311 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 31109. Over-the-road bus security grant program
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Fund established.--The Secretary of the Treasury
shall establish an Over-the-road Bus Security Fund account in
the Treasury into which the Secretary of the Transportation
shall deposit amounts appropriated under paragraph (2).
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Transportation $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and
$200,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, for deposit into the account
established under paragraph (1). Amounts deposited into the
account shall remain available until expended.
``(b) Grant Program.--Without further appropriation, amounts in the
Over-the-road Bus Security Fund account are available to the Secretary
of Transportation for direct grants to persons engaged in the business
of providing over-the-road bus transportation for system-wide security
upgrades, including the reimbursement of extraordinary security-related
costs determined by the Secretary to have been incurred by such
operators since September 11, 2001, including--
``(1) establishing an emergency communications and
notification system linked to law enforcement or emergency
response personnel;
``(2) protecting or isolating the driver;
``(3) implementing and operating passenger screening
programs at terminals and on over-the-road buses (as defined in
section 3038(a)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for the
21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 nt));
``(4) acquiring, upgrading, installing, or operating
equipment, software, or accessorial services for collection,
storage, or exchange of passenger and driver information
through ticketing systems or otherwise, and information links
with government agencies;
``(5) constructing or modifying terminals, garages,
facilities, or over-the-road buses to assure their security;
``(6) training employees in recognizing and responding to
terrorist threats, evacuation procedures, passenger screening
procedures, and baggage inspection;
``(7) hiring and training security officers;
``(8) installing cameras and video surveillance equipment
on over-the-road buses and at terminals, garages and over-the-
road bus facilities; and
``(9) creating a program for employee identification and
background investigation.
``(c) Applications.--To receive a grant under subsection (b), an
applicant shall submit an application, at such time, in such manner, in
such form, and containing such information, as the Secretary may
require, and a plan that meets the requirements of subsection (c) for
the project to be funded, in whole or in part, by the grant.
``(d) Plan Required.--The Secretary may not make a grant under
subsection (b) for a system-wide security upgrade project until the
applicant has submitted to the Secretary, and the Secretary has
approved, a plan for the project, and the applicant has submitted to
the Secretary such additional information as the Secretary may require
in order to ensure full accountability for the obligation or
expenditure of grant amounts.
``(e) Federal Standards.--Section 5333 of this title applies to any
work financed with a grant under this section to the same extent as if
it were financed with a grant under chapter 53 of this title. The
application of that section does not affect or discharge any other
responsibility of the Secretary under this title with respect to work
financed by a grant under this section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) The chapter analysis for chapter 311 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``state'' in the heading for
subchapter I; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section
31108 the following:
``31109. Over-the-road bus security grant program.''.
SEC. 2. BUS SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation may use not less
than $3,000,000 and not more than $5,000,000 of the amounts deposited
in the Over-the-road Bus Security Fund account established under
section 31109 of title 49, United States Code, for research and
development of security recommendations for over-the-road buses (as
defined in section 3038(a)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for the
21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 nt)), including--
(1) a review of actions already taken to address identified
security issues by both public and private entities;
(2) research on engine shut-off mechanisms, chemical and
biological weapon detection technology, and the feasibility of
compartmentalization of the driver; and
(3) compilation, review, and dissemination of industry best
practices.
(b) Consultation With Industry, Labor, and Other Groups.--In
carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with over-the-
road bus management and labor representatives, public safety and law
enforcement officials, and the National Academy of Sciences.
<all>