II 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3679 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 30, 2010 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Dorgan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 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 the STARS Act of 2010.

2.

Teen driver safety program

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a teen traffic safety grant program under which the Secretary shall award 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— (1)to increase safety belt use; (2)to reduce speeding; (3)to reduce impaired and distracted driving; (4)to reduce underage drinking; and (5)to reduce other destructive decisions by 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 grant funds received under this section to implement a statewide program to improve traffic safety of teen drivers, including— (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 websites 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, which shall— (1)consider the number of teen drivers in each State; and (2)guarantee that each State that applies for a grant under this section receives at least $200,000 per year. (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)

Reallocation of funds

An agency of a State that receives a grant under this section may reallocate grant funds to 1 or more nonprofit organizations to carry out the grant program under this section. (h)

Technical assistance center and clearinghouse

(1)

Establishment of center

From funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (i), the Secretary of Transportation may use up to $500,000 to contract with a national, nonprofit organization to establish a technical assistance center (referred to in this subsection as the Center) to provide training and technical assistance to State and local officials, student leaders, school advisors, and other entities associated with the grant program under this section. (2)

Use of funds

The Center may use funds received under such paragraph 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— (A)to develop information and resources for improving the health and safety of teen drivers; (B)to disseminate techniques and strategies used for successful teen safety programs; and (C)to 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) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015 to carry out this section.

3.

Teen Driver Advisory Council

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish the National Teen Driver Advisory Council (referred to in this section as the Council), which shall be comprised of teen drivers and leaders in teen traffic safety. (b)

Strategy and report

(1)

Strategy

The Council, in consultation 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 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress that contains— (A)the results of the study conducted by the Council; and (B)a description of the strategy developed by the Council.

4.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation. (2)

Teen driver

The term teen driver means a driver who is younger than 21 years of age. (3)

Teen traffic safety program

The term teen traffic safety program includes peer-to-peer education and prevention strategies in schools and communities to increase safety belt use and to reduce speeding, impaired and distracted driving, underage drinking, and other destructive decisions by teen drivers that lead to injuries and fatalities.