SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as ‘‘Sami’s Law’’. 
SEC. 2. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR RIDE-HAILING VE-
HICLES AND RIDE-HAILING COMPANIES. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS
FOR TNC PLATFORMS.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
each transportation network company shall establish and 
implement a system and policy within the transportation 
network company’s TNC platform that shall make avail-
able to each passenger a digital method to verify that the 
driver with whom the passenger has been matched through 
the transportation network company’s TNC platform has 
been authorized by the transportation network company 
to accept the passenger’s trip request prior to the begin-
ning of the trip. Such system shall include— 
(1)(A) an initial notification sent to the pas-
senger’s personal mobile device, or otherwise com-
municated to the passenger, containing verifiable in-
formation specific to the TNC driver or TNC vehicle 
with which the passenger has been matched; 
(B) the ability for the passenger, driver, and 
TNC platform to confirm the verifiable information 
matching the passenger to the authorized TNC driv-
er or TNC vehicle prior to the beginning of the trip; 
(C) a TNC platform restriction on a TNC driv-
er from commencing a trip via the TNC platform
until both the passenger and the TNC driver verify 
the other’s identity using the system; and 
(D) a way for a passenger to use a non-visual 
arrangement to verify the TNC driver under the sys-
tem used in accordance with this subparagraph; or 
(2) as an alternative to implementing the sys-
tem required under paragraph (1), a transportation 
network company may implement any successor 
technology-based system that enables verification 
that the driver with whom the passenger has been 
matched through the transportation network com-
pany’s TNC platform has been authorized by the 
transportation network company to accept the pas-
senger’s trip requests received through its digital 
network prior to the beginning of the trip. 
(b) OPT OUT.—A transportation network company 
may offer a passenger an option not to use the system 
that the transportation network company has implemented 
under subsection (a). Any trip completed by a passenger 
who opts not to use the system shall not be a violation 
of this section. 
(c) EXEMPTIONS.—This section shall not apply to 
any trips in which— 
(1) a third party, including any third-party 
business, non-profit, or government entity, facilitates
the trip for the individual who is transported in the 
TNC vehicle; or 
(2) compliance with subsection (a) is impracti-
cable due to circumstances beyond a transportation 
network company’s control, including instances 
where a passenger’s personal mobile device has 
failed to operate or there is degraded, reduced, or 
otherwise insufficient cellular connectivity in order 
for the system to properly operate. 
SEC. 3. SUCCESSOR TECHNOLOGY PERFORMANCE STAND-
ARDS. 
(1) PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS.—Not later 
than 180 days after the establishment of the 
‘‘SAMI’s Law Council’’ pursuant to section 4, such 
Council shall recommend to the Secretary of Trans-
portation performance standards for the successor 
technology-based systems permitted under section 
2(a)(2) and the Secretary shall thereafter issue per-
formance standards consistent with the Council’s 
recommendations and provide a reasonable time for 
a TNC to comply. Such standards shall require, at 
a minimum, that— 
(A) any successor technology-based system 
that enables the verification that the driver with 
whom the passenger has been matched through
the TNC platform has been authorized by the 
transportation network company to accept the 
passenger’s trip request received through its 
TNC platform prior to the beginning of the 
trip; 
(B) confirmation protocols are visually and 
non-visually accessible; and 
(C) a transportation network company im-
plement a system incorporating a driver edu-
cation and public awareness program related to 
the use of its successor technology and its re-
quired verifiable information. 
(2) UPDATING
PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS.— 
Six months after the establishment of the perform-
ance standards required by this section, and, at a 
minimum, annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
solicit input from the SAMI’s Law Council, estab-
lished under section 4, about whether the perform-
ance standards need to be updated or expanded to 
incorporate new technological developments. The 
Secretary may amend the performance standards to 
account for new technological developments. 
(3) INTERIM STANDARDS.—Prior to the adop-
tion of performance standards, a transportation net-
work company may adopt and deploy any other suc-
cessor technology-based system that enables a pas-
senger to verify that the driver with whom the pas-
senger has been matched through the transportation 
network company’s platform has been authorized by 
the transportation network company to accept the 
passenger’s trip requests received through its plat-
form prior to the beginning of the trip. A successor 
technology-based system deployed under this sub-
paragraph shall be considered to fulfill the require-
ments of section 2(a). A successor technology-based 
system adopted under this section shall be presumed 
to meet such requirements unless the Secretary de-
termines otherwise. If the Secretary makes such a 
determination, a reasonable time to cure shall be 
provided. 
(4) REPORTS.—Upon first issuing performance 
standards under paragraph (1), and each year there-
after, the Secretary shall transmit a report to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce of the Senate detailing the performance 
standards recommended by the SAMI’s Law Coun-
cil, established under section 4, and issued by the 
Secretary under paragraph (1), including any up-
dates to such standards and explaining the rationale 
for issuing such performance standards. 
SEC. 4. SAFETY ACTIONS FOR MATCHING AND IDENTI-
FYING RIDE SHARE CUSTOMERS ADVISORY 
COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the 
Safety Actions for Matching and Identifying Ride Share 
Customers’ Council (hereinafter referred to as the 
‘‘SAMI’s Law Council’’), an advisory council for the pur-
pose of developing recommended performance standards 
for successor technology that will protect TNC passengers 
and TNC drivers, as permitted under sections 2(a)(2) and 
authorized under section 3. 
(b) COMPOSITION OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The 
advisory council shall be composed of the following mem-
bers: 
(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall des-
ignate a representative from paragraph (2), who 
shall serve as Council Chair. 
(2) One representative, to be appointed by the 
Secretary of Transportation, from each of the fol-
lowing:
(A) The National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration. 
(B) The Federal Highway Administration. 
(C) The National Institute of Standards 
and Technology. 
(D) The Federal Trade Commission. 
(E) The Federal Aviation Administration. 
(F) An association or trade group that 
represents technology companies, whose mem-
bership includes at least one transportation net-
work company. 
(G) An organization of and for TNC driv-
ers and present in at least two States. 
(3) Two representatives, to be appointed by the 
Secretary of Transportation, from each of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Transportation network companies. 
(B) Law enforcement agencies. 
(C) National organizations of and for peo-
ple with disabilities. 
(D) Ride-haling victims advocacy groups. 
(c) TERMS.—Members of the Council shall serve for 
a term of 3 consecutive years. 
(d) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy occurring in the mem-
bership of the Council shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment for the position being vacated. 
The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining 
members to execute the duties of the Council. 
(e) DUTIES.—The Council shall gather and analyze 
data, provide technical advice, and develop and present 
best practices or recommendations supported by the ma-
jority of members of the Council to the Secretary of 
Transportation regarding performance standards the Sec-
retary may adopt regarding any successor technology- 
based system described in section 2(a)(2). 
(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—On request of the 
Council, the Secretary shall provide such technical assist-
ance to the Council as the Secretary determines to be nec-
essary to carry out the Council’s duties. 
(g) DETAIL OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—On the re-
quest of the Council, the Secretary may detail, with or 
without reimbursement, any employee of the Department 
of Transportation to the Council to assist the Council in 
carrying out its duties. The detail of any such employee 
shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service sta-
tus or privileges of the employee. 
(h) PAYMENT
AND EXPENSES.—Members of the 
Council shall serve without pay, except travel and per diem 
will be paid to each member for meetings called by the 
Secretary.
(i) REVIEW.—Twelve years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall review, and solicit 
public input, as to whether it is necessary for the Council 
to remain in existence. The Secretary shall thereafter have 
the authority to terminate the Council if the Secretary de-
termines that the Council is no longer necessary. If the 
Secretary terminates the Council, the Secretary shall 
maintain the authority to update performance standards 
related to successor technology. 
SEC. 5. PROHIBITION ON SALE OF RIDE-HAILING SIGNAGE. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer 
for sale any signage that is designed to help a passenger 
identify a transportation network company vehicle and— 
(1) contains a transportation network com-
pany’s proprietary trademark or logo, or 
(2) purports to be that of a transportation net-
work company, 
unless such person is the transportation network company 
associated with such proprietary trademark or logo or au-
thorized by the transportation network company to sell or 
offer for sale such signage. 
SEC. 6. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 2.—The Secretary is 
authorized to issue a penalty to a transportation network 
company of up to $5,000 per each day of non-compliance
with section 2 and a penalty of up to $20,000 per each 
day of non-compliance with section 2 when such non-com-
pliance is knowing and willful. With regards to a violation 
relating to any successor technology-based system used by 
a transportation network company permitted under sec-
tion 2(1)(5), the Secretary shall rely on whether such sys-
tem meets the performance standards issued under section 
3. 
(b) VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 5.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A violation of section 5 shall 
be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair 
or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 
18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
(15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)). The Federal Trade Com-
mission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, 
by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, 
powers, and duties as though all applicable terms 
and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
(15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and 
made a part of this Act. Any person who violates 
section 5 shall be subject to the penalties and enti-
tled to the privileges and immunities provided in the 
Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et 
seq.).
(2) SAVINGS
CLAUSE.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed to limit the authority of the Fed-
eral Trade Commission under any other provision of 
law. 
SEC. 7. G.A.O. STUDY ON THE INCIDENCE OF ASSAULT AND 
ABUSE OF PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS OF 
TNC VEHICLES, TAXICABS, AND OTHER FOR- 
HIRE VEHICLES. 
The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on the incidence of assault and abuse per-
petrated on drivers by passengers of TNC vehicles, taxi-
cabs, and other for-hire vehicles, and on such passengers 
by drivers of TNC vehicles, taxicabs, and other for-hire 
vehicles. The Comptroller General shall submit a report 
to Congress not later than one year after the date of en-
actment of this Act. The report shall also examine— 
(1) the nature and specifics of any background 
checks conducted on prospective drivers of TNC ve-
hicles, taxicabs, and other for-hire vehicles, including 
any State and local laws which may require such 
background checks; 
(2) incidences where individuals who are not 
TNC drivers, taxicab drivers, or other for-hire vehi-
cle drivers try to pose as TNC drivers, taxicab driv-
ers, or other for-hire vehicle drivers;
(3) incidences of passengers entering the wrong 
vehicle, whether or not the vehicle was a TNC vehi-
cle, taxicab, and other for-hire vehicle; and 
(4) efforts by transportation network compa-
nies, taxicab companies, or for-hire vehicle compa-
nies to implement additional safety measures and 
practices and of State and local governments requir-
ing such measures, and the efficacy of those efforts, 
practices, and requirements. 
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act— 
(1) the terms ‘‘non-visual’’ and ‘‘non-visually 
accessible’’, with regards to the system required 
under sections 2(a)(1)(D) and 3(1)(B) mean digital 
content that— 
(A) meets the success criteria of the Web 
Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, 
Level AA, and any successor to or revision of 
such guidelines that has been incorporated into 
the Section 508 standards issued by the United 
States Access Board, including, to the extent 
applicable, the Web Accessibility Initiative - Ac-
cessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI– 
ARIA); or
(B) allows a blind or visually impaired pas-
senger to access the same information, and uti-
lize the same system offered to other passengers 
as required under Sections 2(a)(1)(D) and 
3(1)(B) in a way that provides a comparable 
level of privacy, independence and substantially 
equivalent ease of use to the passenger; 
(2) the term ‘‘passenger’’ means an individual 
who is matched with a TNC driver by using a TNC 
platform; 
(3) the term ‘‘personal mobile device’’ means 
any mobile device that an individual uses to connect 
to a TNC platform; 
(4) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Transportation; 
(5) the term ‘‘TNC driver’’ means an individual 
who contracts with a transportation network com-
pany and provides transportation services to pas-
sengers; 
(6) the term ‘‘TNC platform’’ means an online- 
enabled application or digital network made available 
by a transportation network company to connect rid-
ers to TNC drivers for the purpose of providing pre- 
arranged transportation services;
(7) the term ‘‘TNC vehicle’’ means a vehicle 
owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by 
TNC driver that the TNC driver uses to provide pre- 
arranged transportation services, also known as a 
ride-hailing vehicle; and 
(8) the term ‘‘transportation network com-
pany’’— 
(A) means a corporation, partnership, sole 
proprietorship, or other entity, that makes 
available an online-enabled application or digital 
network to connect passengers to TNC drivers 
in order for the driver to transport the pas-
senger using a vehicle owned, leased, or other-
wise authorized for use by the driver to a point 
chosen by the passenger; and 
(B) does not include a shared-expense car-
pool or vanpool arrangement that is not in-
tended to generate profit for the driver; and 
(9) the term ‘‘verifiable information’’ means 
data shared between a TNC platform, TNC driver, 
and passenger that includes a personal authentica-
tion number confirmation system, a license plate 
confirmation system, or a successor technology sys-
tem.
SEC. 9. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 
titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 
Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro-
vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 29, 2020. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4686 
AN ACT 
To require ride-hailing companies to implement an 
enhanced digital system to verify passengers with 
their authorized ride-hailing vehicles and drivers.