II 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4686 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 30, 2020 

Received 

AN ACT 

To require ride-hailing companies to implement an enhanced 

digital system to verify passengers with their authorized 

ride-hailing vehicles and drivers. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as ‘‘Sami’s Law’’. 

3 SEC. 2. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR RIDE-HAILING VE4 HICLES AND RIDE-HAILING COMPANIES. 

5 (a) REQUIREMENTS FOR TNC PLATFORMS.—Not 

6 later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 

7 each transportation network company shall establish and 

8 implement a system and policy within the transportation 

9 network company’s TNC platform that shall make avail10 able to each passenger a digital method to verify that the 

11 driver with whom the passenger has been matched through 

12 the transportation network company’s TNC platform has 

13 been authorized by the transportation network company 

14 to accept the passenger’s trip request prior to the begin15 ning of the trip. Such system shall include— 

16 (1)(A) an initial notification sent to the pas17 senger’s personal mobile device, or otherwise com18 municated to the passenger, containing verifiable in19 formation specific to the TNC driver or TNC vehicle 

20 with which the passenger has been matched; 

21 (B) the ability for the passenger, driver, and 

22 TNC platform to confirm the verifiable information 

23 matching the passenger to the authorized TNC driv24 er or TNC vehicle prior to the beginning of the trip; 

25 (C) a TNC platform restriction on a TNC driv26 er from commencing a trip via the TNC platform 


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1 until both the passenger and the TNC driver verify 

2 the other’s identity using the system; and 

3 (D) a way for a passenger to use a non-visual 

4 arrangement to verify the TNC driver under the sys5 tem used in accordance with this subparagraph; or 

6 (2) as an alternative to implementing the sys7 tem required under paragraph (1), a transportation 

8 network company may implement any successor 

9 technology-based system that enables verification 

10 that the driver with whom the passenger has been 

11 matched through the transportation network com12 pany’s TNC platform has been authorized by the 

13 transportation network company to accept the pas14 senger’s trip requests received through its digital 

15 network prior to the beginning of the trip. 

16 (b) OPT OUT.—A transportation network company 

17 may offer a passenger an option not to use the system 

18 that the transportation network company has implemented 

19 under subsection (a). Any trip completed by a passenger 

20 who opts not to use the system shall not be a violation 

21 of this section. 

22 (c) EXEMPTIONS.—This section shall not apply to 

23 any trips in which— 

24 (1) a third party, including any third-party 

25 business, non-profit, or government entity, facilitates 


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1 the trip for the individual who is transported in the 

2 TNC vehicle; or 

3 (2) compliance with subsection (a) is impracti4 cable due to circumstances beyond a transportation 

5 network company’s control, including instances 

6 where a passenger’s personal mobile device has 

7 failed to operate or there is degraded, reduced, or 

8 otherwise insufficient cellular connectivity in order 

9 for the system to properly operate. 

10 SEC. 3. SUCCESSOR TECHNOLOGY PERFORMANCE STAND11 ARDS. 

12 (1) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—Not later 

13 than 180 days after the establishment of the 

14 ‘‘SAMI’s Law Council’’ pursuant to section 4, such 

15 Council shall recommend to the Secretary of Trans16 portation performance standards for the successor 

17 technology-based systems permitted under section 

18 2(a)(2) and the Secretary shall thereafter issue per19 formance standards consistent with the Council’s 

20 recommendations and provide a reasonable time for 

21 a TNC to comply. Such standards shall require, at 

22 a minimum, that— 

23 (A) any successor technology-based system 

24 that enables the verification that the driver with 

25 whom the passenger has been matched through 


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1 the TNC platform has been authorized by the 

2 transportation network company to accept the 

3 passenger’s trip request received through its 

4 TNC platform prior to the beginning of the 

5 trip; 

6 (B) confirmation protocols are visually and 

7 non-visually accessible; and 

8 (C) a transportation network company im9 plement a system incorporating a driver edu10 cation and public awareness program related to 

11 the use of its successor technology and its re12 quired verifiable information. 

13 (2) UPDATING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.— 

14 Six months after the establishment of the perform15 ance standards required by this section, and, at a 

16 minimum, annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 

17 solicit input from the SAMI’s Law Council, estab18 lished under section 4, about whether the perform19 ance standards need to be updated or expanded to 

20 incorporate new technological developments. The 

21 Secretary may amend the performance standards to 

22 account for new technological developments. 

23 (3) INTERIM STANDARDS.—Prior to the adop24 tion of performance standards, a transportation net25 work company may adopt and deploy any other sucVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:01 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4686.RDS H4686

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1 cessor technology-based system that enables a pas2 senger to verify that the driver with whom the pas3 senger has been matched through the transportation 

4 network company’s platform has been authorized by 

5 the transportation network company to accept the 

6 passenger’s trip requests received through its plat7 form prior to the beginning of the trip. A successor 

8 technology-based system deployed under this sub9 paragraph shall be considered to fulfill the require10 ments of section 2(a). A successor technology-based 

11 system adopted under this section shall be presumed 

12 to meet such requirements unless the Secretary de13 termines otherwise. If the Secretary makes such a 

14 determination, a reasonable time to cure shall be 

15 provided. 

16 (4) REPORTS.—Upon first issuing performance 

17 standards under paragraph (1), and each year there18 after, the Secretary shall transmit a report to the 

19 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

20 the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

21 Commerce of the Senate detailing the performance 

22 standards recommended by the SAMI’s Law Coun23 cil, established under section 4, and issued by the 

24 Secretary under paragraph (1), including any upVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:01 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4686.RDS H4686

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1 dates to such standards and explaining the rationale 

2 for issuing such performance standards. 

3 SEC. 4. SAFETY ACTIONS FOR MATCHING AND IDENTI4 FYING RIDE SHARE CUSTOMERS ADVISORY 

5 COUNCIL. 

6 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of 

7 appropriations, not later than 60 days after the date of 

8 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the 

9 Safety Actions for Matching and Identifying Ride Share 

10 Customers’ Council (hereinafter referred to as the 

11 ‘‘SAMI’s Law Council’’), an advisory council for the pur12 pose of developing recommended performance standards 

13 for successor technology that will protect TNC passengers 

14 and TNC drivers, as permitted under sections 2(a)(2) and 

15 authorized under section 3. 

16 (b) COMPOSITION OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The 

17 advisory council shall be composed of the following mem18 bers: 

19 (1) The Secretary of Transportation shall des20 ignate a representative from paragraph (2), who 

21 shall serve as Council Chair. 

22 (2) One representative, to be appointed by the 

23 Secretary of Transportation, from each of the fol24 lowing: 


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1 (A) The National Highway Traffic Safety 

2 Administration. 

3 (B) The Federal Highway Administration. 

4 (C) The National Institute of Standards 

5 and Technology. 

6 (D) The Federal Trade Commission. 

7 (E) The Federal Aviation Administration. 

8 (F) An association or trade group that 

9 represents technology companies, whose mem10 bership includes at least one transportation net11 work company. 

12 (G) An organization of and for TNC driv13 ers and present in at least two States. 

14 (3) Two representatives, to be appointed by the 

15 Secretary of Transportation, from each of the fol16 lowing: 

17 (A) Transportation network companies. 

18 (B) Law enforcement agencies. 

19 (C) National organizations of and for peo20 ple with disabilities. 

21 (D) Ride-haling victims advocacy groups. 

22 (c) TERMS.—Members of the Council shall serve for 

23 a term of 3 consecutive years. 

24 (d) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy occurring in the mem25 bership of the Council shall be filled in the same manner 


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1 as the original appointment for the position being vacated. 

2 The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining 

3 members to execute the duties of the Council. 

4 (e) DUTIES.—The Council shall gather and analyze 

5 data, provide technical advice, and develop and present 

6 best practices or recommendations supported by the ma7 jority of members of the Council to the Secretary of 

8 Transportation regarding performance standards the Sec9 retary may adopt regarding any successor technology10 based system described in section 2(a)(2). 

11 (f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—On request of the 

12 Council, the Secretary shall provide such technical assist13 ance to the Council as the Secretary determines to be nec14 essary to carry out the Council’s duties. 

15 (g) DETAIL OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—On the re16 quest of the Council, the Secretary may detail, with or 

17 without reimbursement, any employee of the Department 

18 of Transportation to the Council to assist the Council in 

19 carrying out its duties. The detail of any such employee 

20 shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service sta21 tus or privileges of the employee. 

22 (h) PAYMENT AND EXPENSES.—Members of the 

23 Council shall serve without pay, except travel and per diem 

24 will be paid to each member for meetings called by the 

25 Secretary. 


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1 (i) REVIEW.—Twelve years after the date of enact2 ment of this Act, the Secretary shall review, and solicit 

3 public input, as to whether it is necessary for the Council 

4 to remain in existence. The Secretary shall thereafter have 

5 the authority to terminate the Council if the Secretary de6 termines that the Council is no longer necessary. If the 

7 Secretary terminates the Council, the Secretary shall 

8 maintain the authority to update performance standards 

9 related to successor technology. 

10 SEC. 5. PROHIBITION ON SALE OF RIDE-HAILING SIGNAGE. 

11 It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer 

12 for sale any signage that is designed to help a passenger 

13 identify a transportation network company vehicle and— 

14 (1) contains a transportation network com15 pany’s proprietary trademark or logo, or 

16 (2) purports to be that of a transportation net17 work company, 

18 unless such person is the transportation network company 

19 associated with such proprietary trademark or logo or au20 thorized by the transportation network company to sell or 

21 offer for sale such signage. 

22 SEC. 6. ENFORCEMENT. 

23 (a) VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 2.—The Secretary is 

24 authorized to issue a penalty to a transportation network 

25 company of up to $5,000 per each day of non-compliance 


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1 with section 2 and a penalty of up to $20,000 per each 

2 day of non-compliance with section 2 when such non-com3 pliance is knowing and willful. With regards to a violation 

4 relating to any successor technology-based system used by 

5 a transportation network company permitted under sec6 tion 2(1)(5), the Secretary shall rely on whether such sys7 tem meets the performance standards issued under section 

8 3. 

9 (b) VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 5.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—A violation of section 5 shall 

11 be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair 

12 or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 

13 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act 

14 (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)). The Federal Trade Com15 mission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, 

16 by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, 

17 powers, and duties as though all applicable terms 

18 and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act 

19 (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and 

20 made a part of this Act. Any person who violates 

21 section 5 shall be subject to the penalties and enti22 tled to the privileges and immunities provided in the 

23 Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et 

24 seq.). 


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1 (2) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this Act 

2 shall be construed to limit the authority of the Fed3 eral Trade Commission under any other provision of 

4 law. 

5 SEC. 7. G.A.O. STUDY ON THE INCIDENCE OF ASSAULT AND 

6 ABUSE OF PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS OF 

7 TNC VEHICLES, TAXICABS, AND OTHER FOR8 HIRE VEHICLES. 

9 The Comptroller General of the United States shall 

10 conduct a study on the incidence of assault and abuse per11 petrated on drivers by passengers of TNC vehicles, taxi12 cabs, and other for-hire vehicles, and on such passengers 

13 by drivers of TNC vehicles, taxicabs, and other for-hire 

14 vehicles. The Comptroller General shall submit a report 

15 to Congress not later than one year after the date of en16 actment of this Act. The report shall also examine— 

17 (1) the nature and specifics of any background 

18 checks conducted on prospective drivers of TNC ve19 hicles, taxicabs, and other for-hire vehicles, including 

20 any State and local laws which may require such 

21 background checks; 

22 (2) incidences where individuals who are not 

23 TNC drivers, taxicab drivers, or other for-hire vehi24 cle drivers try to pose as TNC drivers, taxicab driv25 ers, or other for-hire vehicle drivers; 


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1 (3) incidences of passengers entering the wrong 

2 vehicle, whether or not the vehicle was a TNC vehi3 cle, taxicab, and other for-hire vehicle; and 

4 (4) efforts by transportation network compa5 nies, taxicab companies, or for-hire vehicle compa6 nies to implement additional safety measures and 

7 practices and of State and local governments requir8 ing such measures, and the efficacy of those efforts, 

9 practices, and requirements. 

10 SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 

11 For purposes of this Act— 

12 (1) the terms ‘‘non-visual’’ and ‘‘non-visually 

13 accessible’’, with regards to the system required 

14 under sections 2(a)(1)(D) and 3(1)(B) mean digital 

15 content that— 

16 (A) meets the success criteria of the Web 

17 Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, 

18 Level AA, and any successor to or revision of 

19 such guidelines that has been incorporated into 

20 the Section 508 standards issued by the United 

21 States Access Board, including, to the extent 

22 applicable, the Web Accessibility Initiative - Ac23 cessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI– 

24 ARIA); or 


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1 (B) allows a blind or visually impaired pas2 senger to access the same information, and uti3 lize the same system offered to other passengers 

4 as required under Sections 2(a)(1)(D) and 

5 3(1)(B) in a way that provides a comparable 

6 level of privacy, independence and substantially 

7 equivalent ease of use to the passenger; 

8 (2) the term ‘‘passenger’’ means an individual 

9 who is matched with a TNC driver by using a TNC 

10 platform; 

11 (3) the term ‘‘personal mobile device’’ means 

12 any mobile device that an individual uses to connect 

13 to a TNC platform; 

14 (4) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

15 of Transportation; 

16 (5) the term ‘‘TNC driver’’ means an individual 

17 who contracts with a transportation network com18 pany and provides transportation services to pas19 sengers; 

20 (6) the term ‘‘TNC platform’’ means an online21 enabled application or digital network made available 

22 by a transportation network company to connect rid23 ers to TNC drivers for the purpose of providing pre24 arranged transportation services; 


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1 (7) the term ‘‘TNC vehicle’’ means a vehicle 

2 owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by 

3 TNC driver that the TNC driver uses to provide pre4 arranged transportation services, also known as a 

5 ride-hailing vehicle; and 

6 (8) the term ‘‘transportation network com7 pany’’— 

8 (A) means a corporation, partnership, sole 

9 proprietorship, or other entity, that makes 

10 available an online-enabled application or digital 

11 network to connect passengers to TNC drivers 

12 in order for the driver to transport the pas13 senger using a vehicle owned, leased, or other14 wise authorized for use by the driver to a point 

15 chosen by the passenger; and 

16 (B) does not include a shared-expense car17 pool or vanpool arrangement that is not in18 tended to generate profit for the driver; and 

19 (9) the term ‘‘verifiable information’’ means 

20 data shared between a TNC platform, TNC driver, 

21 and passenger that includes a personal authentica22 tion number confirmation system, a license plate 

23 confirmation system, or a successor technology sys24 tem. 


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1 SEC. 9. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

2 The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 

3 complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 

4 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 

5 titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 

6 Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 

7 by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro8 vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 

9 vote on passage. 

Passed the House of Representatives July 29, 2020. 

Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 

Clerk. 

By GLORIA J. LETT, 

Deputy Clerk. 


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