I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5949 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2010 Mr. Capuano introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To establish a grant program in the Department of Transportation to improve the traffic safety of teen drivers.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Students Taking Action for Road Safety Act of 2010 or STARS Act of 2010.
2.
Teen driver safety program
(a)
Establishment
The Secretary of Transportation shall establish and implement a teen traffic safety grant program under which the Secretary shall make grants to States to implement a statewide program to improve the traffic safety of teen drivers. (b)
Purpose
The purpose of the program is to support peer-to-peer education and prevention strategies in schools and communities to increase safety belt use and reduce speeding, impaired and distracted driving, underage drinking, and other destructive decisions among teen drivers that lead to injuries and fatalities. (c)
Application
Any State desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d)
Eligible Activities
A State may use funds from a grant under this section to implement a statewide program to improve traffic safety of teen drivers, including activities such as— (1)working with student-led groups and advisors from schools to plan and implement teen traffic safety programs; (2)providing subgrants to schools throughout the State to support the establishment and expansion of student groups focused on teen traffic safety; (3)providing support, training, and technical assistance to establish and expand school and community safety programs for teen drivers; (4)creating statewide or regional Web sites to publicize and circulate information on teen safety programs; (5)conducting outreach and providing educational resources for parents; (6)establishing State or regional advisory councils comprised of teen drivers to provide input and recommendations to the governor and governor’s safety representative on issues related to the safety of teen drivers; (7)collaborating with law enforcement; (8)organizing and hosting State and regional conferences for teen drivers; (9)establishing partnerships and promoting coordination among community stakeholders, including public, not-for-profit, and for-profit entities; and (10)funding a position of coordinator for the teen safety program in the State or region. (e)
Grant amount
The amount of a grant available to a State under this section shall be based on a formula administered by the Secretary. In administering the formula, the Secretary shall consider the number of teen drivers in each State, except that no State that applies for a grant under this section shall receive less than $200,000 annually. (f)
Supplement not supplant
Grant funds provided under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, Federal and non-Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described in this section. (g)
Suballocation of funds
An agency of a State that receives a grant under this section may suballocate grant funds to one or several nonprofit organizations to carry out the program under this section. (h)
Technical assistance center and clearinghouse
(1)
Establishment of center
From funds provided under subsection (c), the Secretary may use up to $500,000 to contract with a national, nonprofit organization to provide training and technical assistance to State and local officials, student leaders, school advisors, and other entities associated with the grant program established in this section. (2)
Use of funds
The center may use funds for training, communications, publications, conferences, meetings and other assistance considered appropriate to develop and sustain a statewide program to improve traffic safety of teen drivers. (3)
Clearinghouse
The center may operate a national teen traffic safety clearinghouse to develop information and resources for improving the health and safety of teen drivers, disseminate techniques and strategies used for successful teen safety programs, and develop and carry out a public awareness campaign related to the safety of teen drivers. (i)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015.
3.
Teen driver advisory council
(a)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish the National Teen Driver Advisory Council which shall be comprised of teen drivers and leaders in teen traffic safety. (b)
Strategy and Report
(1)
Strategy
The Council, working with teen drivers and leaders in teen traffic safety, including representatives of appropriate Federal agencies, shall study and develop an education and prevention strategy for reducing injuries and fatalities for teen drivers. (2)
Report
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted by the Council and a description of the strategy developed.
4.
Definitions
In this Act the following definitions apply: (1)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation. (2)The term teen driver means a driver under the age of 21. (3)The term teen traffic safety program includes peer-to-peer education and prevention strategies in schools and communities to increase safety belt use and reduce speeding, impaired and distracted driving, underage drinking, and other destructive decisions among teen drivers that lead to injuries and fatalities.