I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2416 

To amend title 23, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Transportation to provide States applying for distracted driving grants an explanation of the eligibility decision with respect to such State, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 30, 2019 

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI (for himself, Mr. GALLAGHER, and Mr. COHEN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To amend title 23, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Transportation to provide States applying for 

distracted driving grants an explanation of the eligibility 

decision with respect to such State, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘States Afforded Fund5 ing Extensions To Oppose Driving Recklessly In Vehicular 

6 Engagements Act’’ or the ‘‘SAFE TO DRIVE Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS. 

2 Section 405(e) of title 23, United States Code, is 

3 amended— 

4 (1) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the 

5 following: 

6 ‘‘(6) ADDITIONAL DISTRACTED DRIVING

7 GRANTS.— 

8 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding para9 graph (1), the Secretary shall use up to 25 per10 cent of the amounts available for grants under 

11 this subsection to award grants to any State 

12 otherwise ineligible under this subsection that 

13 certifies that such State has enacted a statute 

14 that— 

15 ‘‘(i) is applicable to drivers of all ages; 

16 ‘‘(ii) makes a violation of the statute 

17 a primary offense; and 

18 ‘‘(iii) prohibits— 

19 ‘‘(I) texting, as defined in para20 graph (10)(E); or 

21 ‘‘(II) all non-navigational viewing 

22 of a personal wireless communication 

23 device. 

24 ‘‘(B) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Notwith25 standing paragraph (5), amounts received by a 

26 State under subparagraph (A) may be used for 


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1 activities related to the enforcement of dis2 tracted driving laws, including for public infor3 mation and awareness purposes.’’; 

4 (2) by redesignating paragraph (9) as para5 graph (10); and 

6 (3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the fol7 lowing: 

8 ‘‘(9) DETERMINATIONS OF GRANT ELIGI9 BILITY.— 

10 ‘‘(A) EXPLANATION OF DETERMINA11 TION.—In making an eligibility determination 

12 in granting or denying an application of a State 

13 for a grant under this subsection, the Secretary 

14 shall provide each applicant State with an ex15 planation of such determination, including an 

16 explanation of whether each section of the stat17 ute submitted with such application met or did 

18 not meet the requirements for a grant under 

19 this subsection. 

20 ‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY OF DETERMINATION.— 

21 Not later than 60 days after granting or deny22 ing an application for a grant under this sub23 section, the Secretary shall make the deter24 mination under subparagraph (A) publicly 


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1 available on the Department of Transportation 

2 website.’’. 

Æ 


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