Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Sami’s Law

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Passenger

The term passenger means an individual who is matched with a TNC driver through a TNC platform.(2)

Tnc driver

The term TNC driver means an individual who contracts with a transportation network company and provides transportation services facilitated through a TNC platform in exchange for compensation or payment of a fee from a passenger.(3)

Tnc platform

The term TNC platform means an online-enabled application or digital network made available by a transportation network company to connect passengers to TNC drivers for the purpose of a TNC driver providing prearranged transportation services.(4)

Tnc vehicle

The term TNC vehicle means a vehicle (also known as a ride-hailing vehicle) that is—(A)owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by a TNC driver; and(B)used by the TNC driver to provide to passengers prearranged transportation services facilitated through a TNC platform.(5)

Transportation network company; TNC

(A)

In general

The terms transportation network company and TNC mean a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity that makes available a TNC platform to connect passengers to TNC drivers in exchange for compensation or payment of a fee in order for the TNC driver to transport the passenger using a TNC vehicle.(B)

Exclusions

The term transportation network company and TNC does not include—(i)a shared-expense carpool or vanpool arrangement that is not intended to generate profit for the driver; or(ii)microtransit or other dedicated services provided exclusively on behalf of a government entity, a nonprofit organization, or a third-party commercial enterprise.

Prohibition on sale of ride-hailing signage

(a)

Prohibition

Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any signage that—(1)is designed to help a passenger to identify a TNC vehicle; and(2)either—(A)contains a proprietary trademark or logo of a transportation network company; or(B)purports to be signage of a transportation network company.(b)

Applicability

Subsection (a) shall not apply to any person authorized by a transportation network company to sell or offer for sale signage of the transportation network company described in that subsection.(c)

Enforcement

(1)

In general

A violation of this section shall be considered to be a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).(2)

Action by FTC

The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this section in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) are incorporated in this Act.(3)

Treatment

Any person who violates this section shall be subject to the penalties, and entitled to the privileges and immunities, provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).(d)

Savings clause

Nothing in this section limits the authority of the Federal Trade Commission under any other provision of law.

GAO study on incidence of fatal and non-fatal physical and sexual assault of passengers, TNC drivers, and drivers of other for-hire vehicles

(a)

GAO Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that includes the results of a study regarding—(1)the incidence of fatal and non-fatal physical assault and sexual assault perpetrated in the preceding 2 calendar years (starting with calendar years 2019 and 2020 for the first study)—(A)against TNC drivers and drivers of other for-hire vehicles (including taxicabs) by passengers and riders of for-hire vehicles; and(B)against passengers and riders by other passengers and TNC drivers or drivers of other for-hire vehicles (including taxicabs), including the incidences that are committed by individuals who are not TNC drivers or drivers of other for-hire vehicles but who pose as TNC drivers or drivers of other for-hire vehicles;(2)the nature and specifics of any background checks conducted on prospective TNC drivers and drivers of other for-hire vehicles (including taxicabs), including any State and local laws requiring those background checks; and(3)the safety steps taken by transportation network companies and other for-hire vehicle services (including taxicab companies) related to rider and driver safety.(b)

Sexual assault defined

In this section, the term sexual assault means the occurrence of an act that constitutes any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, Tribal, or State law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent.

Budgetary effects

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.