[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 16, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5847-S5849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand):
  S. 2606. A bill to establish safety standards for certain limousines, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2606

       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 ``Safety, Accountability, and 
     Federal Enforcement of Limos Act of 2019'' or the ``SAFE 
     Limos Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Certified vehicle.--The term ``certified vehicle'' 
     means a motor vehicle that has been certified in accordance 
     with section 567.4 or 567.5 of title 49, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, to meet all applicable Federal motor vehicle 
     safety standards.
       (2) Incomplete vehicle.--The term ``incomplete vehicle'' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 567.3 of title 49, 
     Code of Federal Regulations.
       (3) Stretch limousine.--The term ``stretch limousine'' 
     means a new or used passenger motor vehicle that has been 
     altered in a manner that increases the overall wheelbase of 
     the vehicle, exceeding the original equipment manufacturer's 
     wheelbase dimension for the base model and year of the 
     vehicle, in any amount sufficient to accommodate additional 
     passengers with a seating capacity of not fewer than 9 
     passengers including the driver.
       (4) Stretch limousine alterer.--The term ``stretch 
     limousine alterer'' means a person who alters by addition, 
     substitution, or removal of components (other than readily 
     attachable components) a certified passenger motor vehicle 
     before or after the first purchase of the vehicle to produce 
     a stretch limousine.

[[Page S5848]]

       (5) Stretch limousine operator.--The term ``stretch 
     limousine operator'' means a person who owns or leases and 
     operates a stretch limousine in interstate commerce.
       (6) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term ``passenger motor 
     vehicle'' has the meaning given that term in section 32101 of 
     title 49, United States Code.
       (7) Safety belt.--The term ``safety belt'' means an 
     occupant restraint system consisting of integrated lap 
     shoulder belts.
       (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Transportation.

     SEC. 3. STRETCH LIMOUSINE STANDARDS.

       (a) Safety Belt Standards for Stretch Limousines.--Not 
     later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary shall prescribe a final rule amending Federal 
     Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Numbers 208 to require safety 
     belts to be installed in stretch limousines with a gross 
     vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 pounds at each 
     designated seating position, including on side-facing seats.
       (b) Seating System Standards for Stretch Limousines.--Not 
     later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary shall prescribe a final rule amending Federal 
     Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 207 to require stretch 
     limousines to meet standards for seats (including side-facing 
     seats), attachment assemblies, and installation to minimize 
     the possibility of their failure by forces acting on them as 
     a result of vehicle impact.
       (c) Report on Retrofit Assessment for Stretch Limousines.--
     Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy 
     and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate a report that assesses the feasibility, benefits, and 
     costs with respect to the application of any requirement 
     established under subsection (a) or (b) to a stretch 
     limousine altered before the date on which the requirement 
     applies to a new stretch limousine.
       (d) Safety Standards for Altering Used Vehicles Into 
     Stretch Limousines.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a final 
     rule revising the regulations under section 567.7 of title 
     49, Code of Federal Regulations, to require a stretch 
     limousine alterer to comply with the requirements for persons 
     who alter certified vehicles.

     SEC. 4. STRETCH LIMOUSINE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFETY 
                   STANDARDS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 301 of subtitle VI of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     30128 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 30129. Stretch Limousine compliance with Federal 
       safety standards

       ``(a) Guidelines, Best Practices, and Recommendations.--Not 
     later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
     section, and not less than every 4 years thereafter, the 
     Secretary shall develop and issue guidelines, best practices, 
     and recommendations to assist a stretch limousine alterer to 
     develop and administer the vehicle modifier plan required 
     under subsection (c).
       ``(b) Process and Analysis.--
       ``(1) Notice required.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of enactment of this section, and as necessary 
     thereafter, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the 
     Federal Register that describes the process and analysis used 
     for approving or denying a vehicle modifier plan submitted by 
     a stretch limousine alterer.
       ``(2) Elements.--The notice required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include--
       ``(A) a description of the safety elements described in 
     subsection (c) in a vehicle modifier plan; and
       ``(B) a description of the process and criterion that the 
     Secretary will use for determining whether a vehicle modifier 
     plan ensures that a stretch limousine meets applicable 
     Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
       ``(c) Requirement.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     Secretary has released the notice required by subsection (b), 
     a new stretch limousine may not be offered for sale, lease, 
     or rent, introduced or delivered for introduction in 
     interstate commerce, or imported into the United States 
     unless the stretch limousine alterer has developed, and the 
     Secretary has approved, a vehicle modifier plan. A vehicle 
     modifier plan includes the following safety elements:
       ``(1) Design, quality control, manufacturing, and training 
     practices adopted by a stretch limousine alterer to ensure 
     that a stretch limousine complies with Federal motor vehicle 
     safety standards.
       ``(2) Customer support guidelines, including instructions 
     for stretch limousine occupants to wear seatbelts and stretch 
     limousine operators to notify occupants of the date and 
     results of the most recent inspection of the stretch 
     limousine.
       ``(3) Any other safety elements that the Secretary 
     determines to be necessary.
       ``(d) Vehicle Modifier Plan.--
       ``(1) Application.--A stretch limousine alterer shall 
     submit to the Secretary an application for approval of a 
     vehicle modifier plan in such a form, at such a time, and 
     containing the information required to be included in the 
     notice published pursuant to subsection (b). A vehicle 
     modifier plan required under subsection (a) may be approved 
     for not more than 4 years after the date on which the plan is 
     approved.
       ``(2) Review.--The Secretary may approve a vehicle modifier 
     plan submitted under paragraph (1) on a finding that the plan 
     ensures that a stretch limousine will meet Federal motor 
     vehicle safety standards.
       ``(3) Timely consideration of applications.--The Secretary 
     shall approve or reject a vehicle modifier plan not later 
     than 1 year after receiving an application from a stretch 
     limousine alterer.
       ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Incomplete vehicle.--The term `incomplete vehicle' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 567.3 of title 49, 
     Code of Federal Regulations.
       ``(2) Stretch limousine.--The term `stretch limousine' 
     means a new or used passenger motor vehicle that has been 
     altered in a manner that increases the overall wheelbase of 
     the vehicle, exceeding the original equipment manufacturer's 
     wheelbase dimension for the base model and year of the 
     vehicle, in any amount sufficient to accommodate additional 
     passengers with a seating capacity of not fewer than 9 
     passengers including the driver.
       ``(3) Stretch limousine alterer.--The term `stretch 
     limousine alterer' means a person who alters by addition, 
     substitution, or removal of components (other than readily 
     attachable components) an incomplete vehicle or a certified 
     passenger motor vehicle before or after the first purchase of 
     the vehicle to produce a stretch limousine.
       ``(4) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term `passenger motor 
     vehicle' has the meaning given that term in section 32101.''.
       (b) Enforcement.--Section 30165(a)(1) of title 49, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting ``30129,'' after 
     ``30127,''.

     SEC. 5. STRETCH LIMOUSINE CRASHWORTHINESS.

       (a) Research.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
     enactment, the Secretary shall complete research into side 
     impact protection, roof crush resistance, and air bag systems 
     for the protection of occupants in stretch limousines given 
     alternative seating positions or interior configurations, 
     including perimeter seating arrangements.
       (b) Research Requirements.--In conducting the research 
     required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) develop one or more tests to evaluate side impact 
     protection, roof crush resistance, and air bag systems of 
     stretch limousines;
       (2) determine metrics that would be most effective at 
     evaluating the side impact protection, roof crush resistance, 
     and air bag systems of stretch limousines; and
       (3) determine criteria to assure the stretch limousines are 
     protecting occupants in any alternative seating positions or 
     interior configurations.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report 
     describing the findings of the research required under this 
     section to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation of the Senate.
       (d) Vehicle Modifier Plans.--The Secretary shall 
     incorporate the findings of the research conducted under this 
     section into the guidelines required under section 30129(a) 
     of title 49 and the process and analysis required under 
     section 30129(b) of title 49, United States Code, as added by 
     section 4(a).
       (e) Crashworthiness Standards.--The Secretary shall issue 
     final motor vehicle safety standards for side impact 
     protection, roof crush resistance, and air bag systems for 
     stretch limousines if the Secretary determines that such 
     standards meet the requirements and considerations set forth 
     in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 6. STRETCH LIMOUSINE EVACUATION.

       (a) Research.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
     complete research into safety features and standards that aid 
     egress and regress in the event that one exit in the 
     passenger compartment of a stretch limousine is blocked.
       (b) Standards.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue stretch 
     limousine evacuation standards based on the results of the 
     Secretary's research.

     SEC. 7. STRETCH LIMOUSINE INSPECTION DISCLOSURE.

       (a) Stretch Limousine Inspection Disclosure.--A stretch 
     limousine operator introducing a stretch limousine into 
     interstate commerce may not deploy for commercial use a 
     stretch limousine unless the stretch limousine operator has 
     prominently disclosed in a clear and conspicuous notice, 
     including on its website to the extent the stretch limousine 
     operator uses a website, that includes--
       (1) the date of the most recent inspection of the stretch 
     limousine required under State or Federal law;
       (2) the results of the inspection; and
       (3) any corrective action taken by the stretch limousine 
     operator to ensure the stretch limousine passed inspection.
       (b) Federal Trade Commission Enforcement.--A violation of 
     subsection (a) shall be treated as a an unfair or deceptive 
     act or practice within the meaning of section 5(a)(1) of the 
     Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1)). 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 
     terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were 
     incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
       (c) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to limit the authority of the Federal Trade 
     commission under any other provision of law.

[[Page S5849]]

       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 180 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 8. EVENT DATA RECORDERS FOR STRETCH LIMOUSINES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
     Administration, shall issue a final rule requiring the use of 
     event data recorders for stretch limousines.
       (b) Privacy Protections.--Any standard promulgated under 
     subsection (a) pertaining to event data recorder information 
     shall comply with the collection and sharing requirements 
     under the FAST Act (Public Law 114-94).
                                 ______