H. R. 302—158 
SEC. 434. AIRLINE PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES BILL OF RIGHTS. 
(a) AIRLINE PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES BILL OF RIGHTS.— 
The Secretary of Transportation shall develop a document, to be 
known as the ‘‘Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights’’, 
using plain language to describe the basic protections and respon-
sibilities of covered air carriers, their employees and contractors, 
and people with disabilities under the section 41705 of title 49, 
United States Code. 
(b) CONTENT.—In developing the Airline Passengers with 
Disabilities Bill of Rights under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
include, at a minimum, plain language descriptions of protections 
and responsibilities provided in law related to the following: 
(1) The right of passengers with disabilities to be treated 
with dignity and respect. 
(2) The right of passengers with disabilities to receive 
timely assistance, if requested, from properly trained covered 
air carrier and contractor personnel. 
(3) The right of passengers with disabilities to travel with 
wheelchairs, mobility aids, and other assistive devices, 
including 
necessary 
medications 
and 
medical 
supplies, 
including stowage of such wheelchairs, aids, and devices. 
(4) The right of passengers with disabilities to receive 
seating accommodations, if requested, to accommodate a dis-
ability. 
(5) The right of passengers with disabilities to receive 
announcements in an accessible format. 
(6) The right of passengers with disabilities to speak with 
a complaint resolution officer or to file a complaint with a 
covered air carrier or the Department of Transportation. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The development of the Airline 
Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights under subsections (a) 
and (b) shall not be construed as expanding or restricting the 
rights available to passengers with disabilities on the day before 
the date of the enactment of this Act pursuant to any statute 
or regulation. 
(d) CONSULTATIONS.—In developing the Airline Passengers with 
Disabilities Bill of Rights under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Transportation shall consult with stakeholders, including disability 
organizations and covered air carriers and their contractors. 
(e) DISPLAY.—Each covered air carrier shall include the Airline 
Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights— 
(1) on a publicly available internet website of the covered 
air carrier; and 
(2) in any pre-flight notifications or communications pro-
vided to passengers who alert the covered air carrier in advance 
of the need for accommodations relating to a disability. 
(f) TRAINING.—Covered air carriers and contractors of covered 
air carriers shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation plans 
that ensure employees of covered air carriers and their contractors 
receive training on the protections and responsibilities described 
in the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights. The Sec-
retary shall review such plans to ensure the plans address the 
matters described in subsection (b). 
SEC. 435. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING EQUAL ACCESS FOR 
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
It is the sense of Congress that—
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(1) the aviation industry and every relevant stakeholder 
must work to ensure that every individual who experiences 
a disability has equal access to air travel; 
(2) as technology and ease of travel continue to advance, 
accessibility must be a priority; and 
(3) accommodations must— 
(A) extend to every airport and service or facility of 
an air carrier; and 
(B) be inclusive of every disability. 
SEC. 436. CIVIL PENALTIES RELATING TO HARM TO PASSENGERS WITH 
DISABILITIES. 
Section 46301(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) PENALTIES RELATING
TO HARM
TO PASSENGERS WITH 
DISABILITIES.— 
‘‘(A) PENALTY FOR BODILY HARM OR DAMAGE TO WHEELCHAIR 
OR OTHER MOBILITY AID.—The amount of a civil penalty assessed 
under this section for a violation of section 41705 that involves 
damage to a passenger’s wheelchair or other mobility aid or 
injury to a passenger with a disability may be increased above 
the otherwise applicable maximum amount under this section 
for a violation of section 41705 to an amount not to exceed 
3 times the maximum penalty otherwise allowed. 
‘‘(B) EACH ACT CONSTITUTES SEPARATE OFFENSE.—Notwith-
standing paragraph (2), a separate violation of section 41705 
occurs for each act of discrimination prohibited by that section.’’. 
SEC. 437. HARMONIZATION OF SERVICE ANIMAL STANDARDS. 
(a) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary of Transportation shall con-
duct a rulemaking proceeding— 
(1) to define the term ‘‘service animal’’ for purposes of 
air transportation; and 
(2) to develop minimum standards for what is required 
for service and emotional support animals carried in aircraft 
cabins. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the rulemaking under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum— 
(1) whether to align the definition of ‘‘service animal’’ with 
the definition of that term in regulations of the Department 
of Justice implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act 
of 1990 (Public Law 101–336); 
(2) reasonable measures to ensure pets are not claimed 
as service animals, such as— 
(A) whether to require photo identification for a service 
animal identifying the type of animal, the breed of animal, 
and the service the animal provides to the passenger; 
(B) whether to require documentation indicating 
whether or not a service animal was trained by the owner 
or an approved training organization; 
(C) whether to require, from a licensed physician, docu-
mentation indicating the mitigating task or tasks a service 
animal provides to its owner; and 
(D) whether to allow a passenger to be accompanied 
by more than 1 service animal; 
(3) reasonable measures to ensure the safety of all pas-
sengers, such as—
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(A) whether to require health and vaccination records 
for a service animal; and 
(B) whether to require third-party proof of behavioral 
training for a service animal; 
(4) the impact additional requirements on service animals 
could have on access to air transportation for passengers with 
disabilities; and 
(5) if impacts on access to air transportation for passengers 
with disabilities are found, ways to eliminate or mitigate those 
impacts. 
(c) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a final rule 
pursuant to the rulemaking conducted under this section. 
SEC. 438. REVIEW OF PRACTICES FOR TICKETING, PRE-FLIGHT SEAT 
ASSIGNMENTS, AND STOWING OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES FOR 
PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the first 
meeting of the advisory committee on the air travel needs 
of passengers with disabilities established in section 439 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’), the 
Secretary of Transportation shall direct the Advisory Com-
mittee to review current regulations with respect to practices 
for ticketing, pre-flight seat assignments, and stowing of 
assistive devices for passengers with disabilities. 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In carrying out the review under 
paragraph (1), the Advisory Committee shall, at a minimum, 
provide recommendations on whether current regulations 
should be modified or prescribed to— 
(A) provide accommodations for passengers with 
disabilities, if requested, in ticketing and pre-flight assign-
ments; 
(B) require covered air carriers to provide priority 
access to bulkhead seating to passengers with disabilities 
who need access to features of those seats due to disabilities 
regardless of class of service of ticket purchased; and 
(C) ensure passengers with disabilities are able to stow 
assistive devices without cost. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date of their 
first meeting, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Secretary 
of Transportation and the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report on the review conducted under subsection (a)(1), including 
the recommendations developed under subsection (a)(2). 
SEC. 439. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE AIR TRAVEL NEEDS OF PAS-
SENGERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
establish an advisory committee on issues related to the air travel 
needs of passengers with disabilities (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall— 
(1) identify and assess the disability-related access barriers 
encountered by passengers with disabilities; 
(2) determine the extent to which the programs and activi-
ties of the Department of Transportation are addressing the 
barriers identified in paragraph (1);
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(3) recommend consumer protection improvements to the 
air travel experience of passengers with disabilities; 
(4) advise the Secretary with regard to the implementation 
of section 41705 of title 49, United States Code; and 
(5) conduct such activities as the Secretary considers nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee shall be com-
posed of at least 1 representative of each of the following 
groups: 
(A) Passengers with disabilities. 
(B) National disability organizations. 
(C) Air carriers. 
(D) Airport operators. 
(E) Contractor service providers. 
(F) Aircraft manufacturers. 
(G) Wheelchair manufacturers. 
(H) National veterans organizations representing dis-
abled veterans. 
(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
appoint each member of the Advisory Committee. 
(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Advisory Committee shall 
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
(d) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of Transportation shall des-
ignate, from among the members appointed under subsection (c), 
an individual to serve as chairperson of the Advisory Committee. 
(e) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Advisory Committee 
shall serve without pay, but shall receive travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter 
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 14 months after the date 
of establishment of the Advisory Committee, and annually 
thereafter, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Sec-
retary of Transportation a report on the needs of passengers 
with disabilities in air travel, including— 
(A) an assessment of existing disability-related access 
barriers, and any emerging disability-related access bar-
riers that will likely be an issue in the next 5 calendar 
years; 
(B) an evaluation of the extent to which the Depart-
ment of Transportation’s programs and activities are elimi-
nating disability-related access barriers; 
(C) a description of the Advisory Committee’s actions; 
(D) a description of improvements related to the air 
travel experience of passengers with disabilities; and 
(E) any recommendations for legislation, administra-
tive action, or other action that the Advisory Committee 
considers appropriate. 
(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date the Secretary receives the report under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a copy of the report, including any additional 
findings or recommendations that the Secretary considers 
appropriate.