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† HR 4348 EAS 
SEC. 32705. OCCUPANT PROTECTION, COLLISION AVOID-
ANCE, FIRE CAUSATION, AND FIRE EXTIN-
GUISHER RESEARCH AND TESTING. 
(a) SAFETY RESEARCH INITIATIVES.—Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall complete the following research and testing: 
(1) IMPROVED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.—The Sec-
retary shall research and test the need to install im-
proved fire extinguishers or other readily available 
firefighting equipment in motorcoaches to effectively 
extinguish fires in motorcoaches and prevent pas-
senger deaths and injuries. 
(2) INTERIOR
IMPACT
PROTECTION.—The Sec-
retary shall research and test enhanced occupant im-
pact protection standards for motorcoach interiors to 
reduce substantially serious injuries for all passengers 
of motorcoaches. 
(3) COMPARTMENTALIZATION SAFETY COUNTER-
MEASURES.—The Secretary shall require enhanced 
compartmentalization 
safety 
countermeasures 
for 
motorcoaches, including enhanced seating designs, to 
substantially reduce the risk of passengers being 
thrown from their seats and colliding with other pas-
sengers, interior surfaces, and components in the 
event of a crash involving a motorcoach.
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(4) COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS.—The Sec-
retary shall research and test forward and lateral 
crash warning systems applications for motorcoaches. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 2 years after the 
completion of each research and testing initiative required 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue final motor 
vehicle safety standards if the Secretary determines that 
such standards are warranted based on the requirements 
and considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of 
section 30111 of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 32706. MOTORCOACH REGISTRATION. 
(a) 
REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
13902(b) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) 
as paragraphs (4) through (11), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting before paragraph (4), as redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(1) ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 
FOR PROVIDERS OR MOTORCOACH SERVICES.—In ad-
dition to meeting the requirements under subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary may not register a person to 
provide motorcoach services until after the person— 
‘‘(A) undergoes a preauthorization safety 
audit, including verification, in a manner suffi-
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cient to demonstrate the ability to comply with 
Federal rules and regulations, of— 
‘‘(i) a drug and alcohol testing pro-
gram under part 40 of title 49, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations; 
‘‘(ii) the carrier’s system of compliance 
with hours-of-service rules, including hours- 
of-service records; 
‘‘(iii) the ability to obtain required in-
surance; 
‘‘(iv) driver qualifications, including 
the validity of the commercial driver’s li-
cense of each driver who will be operating 
under such authority; 
‘‘(v) disclosure of common ownership, 
common control, common management, 
common familial relationship, or other cor-
porate relationship with another motor car-
rier or applicant for motor carrier author-
ity during the past 3 years; 
‘‘(vi) records of the State inspections, 
or of a Level I or V Commercial Vehicle 
Safety Alliance Inspection, for all vehicles 
that will be operated by the carrier;
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‘‘(vii) safety management programs, 
including vehicle maintenance and repair 
programs; and 
‘‘(viii) the ability to comply with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), and the Over-the- 
Road Bus Transportation Accessibility Act 
of 2007 (122 Stat. 2915); 
‘‘(B) has been interviewed to review safety 
management controls and the carrier’s written 
safety oversight policies and practices; and 
‘‘(C) through the successful completion of a 
written examination developed by the Secretary, 
has demonstrated proficiency to comply with 
and carry out the requirements and regulations 
described in subsection (a)(1). 
‘‘(2) PRE-AUTHORIZATION SAFETY AUDIT.—The 
pre-authorization safety audit required under para-
graph (1)(A) shall be completed on-site not later than 
90 days following the submission of an application 
for operating authority. 
‘‘(3) FEE.—The Secretary may establish, under 
section 9701 of title 31, a fee of not more than $1,200 
for new registrants that as nearly as possible covers 
the costs of performing a preauthorization safety
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audit. Amounts collected under this subsection shall 
be deposited in the Highway Trust Fund (other than 
the Mass Transit Account).’’. 
(b) SAFETY REVIEWS OF NEW OPERATORS.—Section 
31144(g)(1) is amended by inserting ‘‘transporting prop-
erty’’ after ‘‘each operator’’. 
(c) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
24305(a)(3)(A)(i) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘section 
13902(b)(8)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 13902(b)(11)(A)’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 32707. IMPROVED OVERSIGHT OF MOTORCOACH SERV-
ICE PROVIDERS. 
(a) SAFETY REVIEWS.—Section 31144, as amended by 
sections 32204 and 32604 of this Act, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) PERIODIC SAFETY REVIEWS OF PROVIDERS OF 
MOTORCOACH SERVICES.— 
‘‘(1) SAFETY REVIEW.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) determine the safety fitness of all 
providers of motorcoach services registered 
with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Ad-
ministration through a simple and under-