[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3702 Introduced in Senate (IS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3702

  To provide for the safety of migrant seasonal agricultural workers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 20, 2006

  Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Ms. Snowe) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for the safety of migrant seasonal agricultural workers.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Farm and Forestry Worker 
Transportation Safety Act''.

SEC. 2. SEATS AND SEAT BELTS FOR MIGRANT AND SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL 
              WORKERS.

    (a) Seats.--Except as provided in subsection (d), in promulgating 
vehicle safety standards under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural 
Worker Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) for the transportation 
of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers by farm labor contractors, 
agricultural employers or agricultural associations, the Secretary of 
Labor shall ensure that each occupant or rider in, or on, any vehicle 
subject to such standards is provided with a seat that is a designated 
seating position (as such term is defined for purposes of the Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards issued under chapter 301 of title 49, 
United States Code).
    (b) Seat Belts.--Each seating position required under subsection 
(a) shall be equipped with an operational seat belt, except that this 
subsection shall not apply with respect to seating positions in buses 
that would otherwise not be required to have seat belts under the 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    (c) Performance Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall issue minimum 
        performance requirements for the strength of seats and the 
        attachment of seats and seat belts in vehicles that are 
        converted, after being sold for purposes other than resale, for 
        the purpose of transporting migrant or seasonal agricultural 
        workers. The requirements shall provide a level of safety that 
        is as close as practicable to the level of safety provided for 
        in a vehicle that is manufactured or altered for the purpose of 
        transporting such workers before being sold for purposes other 
        than resale.
            (2) Expiration.--Effective on the date that is 7 years 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, any vehicle that is or 
        has been converted for the purpose of transporting migrant or 
        seasonal agricultural workers shall provide the same level of 
        safety as a vehicle that is manufactured or altered for such 
        purpose prior to being sold for purposes other than resale.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to alter or modify the regulations contained in section 
500.103, or the provision pertaining to transportation that is 
primarily on private roads in section 500.104(l), of title 29, Code of 
Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
    (e) Definitions.--The definitions contained in section 3 of the 
Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 
1802) shall apply to this section.
    (f) Compliance Date.--Not later than 1 year after such date of 
enactment, and except as provided in subsection (c)(2), all vehicles 
subject to this Act shall be in compliance with the requirements of 
this Act.
                                 <all>