II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 560 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 8, 2005 Mr. DeWine (for himself and Mr. Rockefeller) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To enhance disclosure of automobile safety information.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stars on Cars Act of 2005.

2.

Amendment of Automobile Information Disclosure Act

(a)

Safety labeling requirement

Section 3 of the Automobile Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1232) is amended— (1) in subsection (e), by striking and at the end; (2) in subsection (f)— (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting and after the semicolon; and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (g) if 1 or more safety ratings for such automobile have been assigned and formally published or released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under the New Car Assessment Program, information about safety ratings that— (1) includes a graphic depiction of the number of stars, or other applicable rating, that corresponds to each such assigned safety rating displayed in a clearly differentiated fashion indicating the maximum possible safety rating; (2) refers to frontal impact crash tests, side impact crash tests, and rollover resistance tests (whether or not such automobile has been assigned a safety rating for such tests); (3) contains information describing the nature and meaning of the crash test data presented and a reference to additional vehicle safety resources, including http://www.safecar.gov; and (4) is presented in a legible, visible, and prominent fashion and covers at least— (A) 8 percent of the total area of the label; or (B) an area with a minimum length of 41/2 inches and a minimum height of 31/2 inches; and (h) if an automobile has not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under the New Car Assessment Program, or safety ratings for such automobile have not been assigned in one or more rating categories, a statement to that effect. . (b)

Regulations

Not later than January 1, 2006, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations to implement the labeling requirements under subsections (g) and (h) of section 3 of the Automobile Information Disclosure Act, as added by subsection (a). (c)

Applicability

The labeling requirements under subsections (g) and (h) of section 3 of such Act (as added by subsection (a)), and the regulations prescribed under subsection (b), shall apply to new automobiles delivered on or after— (1) September 1, 2006, if the regulations under subsection (b) are prescribed not later than August 31, 2005; or (2) September 1, 2007, if the regulations under subsection (b) are prescribed after August 31, 2005.

3.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation, to accelerate the testing processes and increasing the number of vehicles tested under the New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration— (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; (2) $8,134,065 for fiscal year 2007; (3) $8,418,760 for fiscal year 2008; (4) $8,713,410 for fiscal year 2009; and (5) $9,018,385 for fiscal year 2010.