II 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3702 

To provide for the safety of migrant seasonal agricultural workers. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 20, 2006 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Ms. SNOWE) 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 and Forestry 

5 Worker Transportation 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 


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•S 3702 IS 

1 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) for the transportation of migrant and 

2 seasonal agricultural workers by farm labor contractors, 

3 agricultural employers or agricultural associations, the 

4 Secretary of Labor shall ensure that each occupant or 

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

6 provided with a seat that is a designated seating position 

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

8 vehicle safety standards issued under chapter 301 of title 

9 49, United States Code). 

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

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

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

13 respect to seating positions in buses that would otherwise 

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

15 vehicle safety standards. 

16 (c) PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.— 

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

18 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec19 retary of Transportation, in consultation with the 

20 Secretary of Labor, shall issue minimum perform21 ance requirements for the strength of seats and the 

22 attachment of seats and seat belts in vehicles that 

23 are converted, after being sold for purposes other 

24 than resale, for the purpose of transporting migrant 

25 or seasonal agricultural workers. The requirements 


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1 shall provide a level of safety that is as close as 

2 practicable to the level of safety provided for in a ve3 hicle that is manufactured or altered for the purpose 

4 of transporting such workers before being sold for 

5 purposes other than resale. 

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

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

8 vehicle that is or has been converted for the purpose 

9 of transporting migrant or seasonal agricultural 

10 workers shall provide the same level of safety as a 

11 vehicle that is manufactured or altered for such pur12 pose prior to being sold for purposes other than re13 sale. 

14 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec15 tion shall be construed to alter or modify the regulations 

16 contained in section 500.103, or the provision pertaining 

17 to transportation that is primarily on private roads in sec18 tion 500.104(l), of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, 

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

20 (e) DEFINITIONS.—The definitions contained in sec21 tion 3 of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker 

22 Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 1802) shall apply to this sec23 tion. 

24 (f) COMPLIANCE DATE.—Not later than 1 year after 

25 such date of enactment, and except as provided in subVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:14 Jul 21, 2006 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3702.IS S3702

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1 section (c)(2), all vehicles subject to this Act shall be in 

2 compliance with the requirements of this Act. 

Æ 


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