I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1641
To require increased safety testing of 15-passenger vans, ensure the compli-
ance of 15-passenger vans used as schoolbuses with motor vehicle safety 
standards applicable to schoolbuses, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 3, 2003
Mr. UDALL of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require increased safety testing of 15-passenger vans, 
ensure the compliance of 15-passenger vans used as 
schoolbuses with motor vehicle safety standards applica-
ble to schoolbuses, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Passenger Van Safety 
Act of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act:
(1) 15-PASSENGER
VAN.—The term ‘‘15-pas-
senger van’’ means a van designed or used to carry 
9 to 15 passengers, including the driver. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
TITLE I—ENHANCED VAN 
SAFETY 
SEC. 101. DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TESTING PROGRAM. 
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR ROLLOVER TESTING.—Not 
later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall, under Section 30117(c) of title 
49, United States Code—
(1) develop a dynamic test on rollovers by 15-
passenger vans for the purposes of a consumer infor-
mation program; and 
(2) carry out a program of conducting such 
tests. 
(b) AMENDMENT.—Section 30117(c) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by—
(1) in paragraph (1), striking ‘‘Not later than 
2 years from the date of the enactment of this sub-
section,’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), after ‘‘or less’’, inserting 
‘‘, and to vans designed or used to carry 9 to 15
passengers, including the driver, irrespective of gross 
vehicle weight rating’’. 
SEC. 102. NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. 
The Secretary shall require the testing of 15-pas-
senger vans at various load condition levels as part of the 
rollover resistance program of the National Highway Traf-
fic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Pro-
gram. 
SEC. 103. TESTING AND EVALUATION OF VAN STABILITY 
TECHNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT
FOR TESTING
AND EVALUA-
TION.—The Secretary shall test and evaluate various tech-
nological systems to determine the effectiveness of such 
systems in assisting drivers of 15-passenger vans to con-
trol the vans under conditions that cause vehicle rollover. 
(b) SYSTEMS TESTED.—The technological systems 
tested and evaluated under this section shall include elec-
tronic stability control systems, rear-view mirror-based 
rollover warning systems, traction systems, lane departure 
systems, and antilock brakes. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 
with manufacturers of 15-passenger vans in the testing 
and evaluation of technological systems under this section.
SEC. 104. APPLICATION OF FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER 
SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a final rule initi-
ated pursuant to the proposed rulemaking published in the 
Federal Register on January 11, 2001, Docket No. 
FMCSA–2000–7017, relating to the application of Fed-
eral Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to the commercial 
operation of 15-passenger vans. 
SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
title. 
TITLE 
II—APPLICABILITY 
OF 
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STAND-
ARDS 
SEC. 201. PROHIBITION ON PURCHASE, RENTAL, OR LEASE 
OF NONCOMPLYING 15-PASSENGER VANS FOR 
USE AS SCHOOLBUSES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Section 30112(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Except as pro-
vided in this section’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) Except as provided in this section, sections 
30113 and 30114 of this title, and subchapter III of this
chapter, a person may not purchase, rent, or lease any 
motor vehicle designed or used to transport 9 to 15 pas-
sengers that the person knows or reasonably should know 
will be used significantly to transport preprimary, pri-
mary, and secondary school students to or from school or 
an event related to school, unless the motor vehicle com-
plies with the motor vehicle standards prescribed for 
schoolbuses under section 30125 of this title.’’. 
(b) LIMITATION ON APPLICATION.—Subsection (a) 
shall not apply to any purchase, rental, or lease of a motor 
vehicle required under a contract entered into before the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 202. PENALTY. 
Section 30165(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘A’’ before ‘‘person’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of 
this paragraph, a’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) The maximum amount of a civil penalty 
under this paragraph shall be $25,000, in the case 
of—
‘‘(i) the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, 
introduction or delivery for introduction into 
interstate commerce, or importation of a school-
bus or schoolbus equipment (as those terms are 
defined in section 30125(a) of this title) in vio-
lation of section 30112(a)(1) of this title; or 
‘‘(ii) a violation of section 30112(a)(2) of 
this title. 
‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) does not affect the 
maximum penalty that may be imposed under sub-
paragraph (A) for a related series of violations. 
‘‘(D) Notwithstanding section 3302(b) of title 
31, penalties collected under subparagraph (B)—
‘‘(i) shall be credited as offsetting collec-
tions to the account that funds the enforcement 
of subparagraph (B); 
‘‘(ii) shall be available for expenditure only 
to pay the costs of such enforcement; and 
‘‘(iii) shall remain available until ex-
pended.’’.
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