II

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 2095

To provide for the safety of migrant seasonal agricultural workers.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

FEBRUARY 24, 2000

Mrs. FEINSTEIN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and

referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To provide for the safety of migrant seasonal agricultural

workers.

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 ‘‘Farm Worker Trans5 portation Safety Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. SEATS AND SEAT BELTS FOR MIGRANT AND SEA7 SONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS.

8 (a) SEATS.—Except as provided in subsection (d), in

9 promulgating vehicle safety standards under the Migrant

10 and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (29

11 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) for the transportation of migrant and
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1 seasonal agricultural workers by farm labor contractors,

2 agricultural employers or agricultural associations, the

3 Secretary of Labor shall ensure that each occupant or

4 rider in, or on, any vehicle subject to such standards is

5 provided with a seat that is a designated seating position

6 (as such term is defined for purposes of the Federal motor

7 vehicle safety standards issued under chapter 301 of title

8 49, United States Code).

9 (b) SEAT BELTS.—Each seating position required

10 under subsection (a) shall be equipped with an operational

11 seat belt, except that this subsection shall not apply with

12 respect to seating positions in buses that would otherwise

13 not be required to have seat belts under the Federal motor

14 vehicle safety standards.

15 (c) PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.—

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months

17 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec18 retary of Transportation, in consultation with the

19 Secretary of Labor, shall issue minimum perform20 ance requirements for the strength of seats and the

21 attachment of seats and seat belts in vehicles that

22 are converted, after being sold for purposes other

23 than resale, for the purpose of transporting migrant

24 or seasonal agricultural workers. The requirements

25 shall provide a level of safety that is as close as
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1 practicable to the level of safety provided for in a ve2 hicle that is manufactured or altered for the purpose

3 of transporting such workers before being sold for

4 purposes other than resale.

5 (2) EXPIRATION.—Effective on the date that is

6 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act, any

7 vehicle that is or has been converted for the purpose

8 of transporting migrant or seasonal agricultural

9 workers shall provide the same level of safety as a

10 vehicle that is manufactured or altered for such pur11 pose prior to being sold for purposes other than re12 sale.

13 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec14 tion shall be construed to alter or modify the regulations

15 contained in section 500.103, or the provision pertaining

16 to transportation that is primarily on private roads in sec17 tion 500.104(l), of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations,

18 as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

19 (e) DEFINITIONS.—The definitions contained in sec20 tion 3 of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker

21 Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 1802) shall apply to this sec22 tion.
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1 (f) COMPLIANCE DATE.—Not later than 1 year after

2 such date of enactment, all vehicles subject to this Act

3 shall be in compliance with the requirements of this Act.

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