SAFE Limos Act
Bill: S.1529 | Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. (D-NY)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Safety, Accountability, and Federal Enforcement of Limos Act of 2021 or the SAFE Limos Act
This bill sets out requirements to improve the safety of limousines.
Within two years of the bill's enactment, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must apply to newly manufactured limousines specified motor vehicle safety standards related to the installation of seat belts and other occupant crash protections. In addition, DOT must report on the feasibility, benefits, and costs of retrofitting limousines to meet those standards.
DOT must also develop additional motor vehicle safety standards to improve limousine safety. This includes standards related to (1) side impact protection, roof crush resistance, and other aspects of crashworthiness; (2) evacuation in the event the exit in the passenger compartment is blocked; and (3) the use of event data recorders.
Additionally, the bill requires that individuals who remodel new limousines submit to DOT and annually update a plan for mitigating limousine safety risks. The plan must include, among other topics, verification that the remodeled limousines meet applicable safety standards. Further, individuals who modify used vehicles into limousines must certify that the modified vehicles meet such standards.
The bill also requires limousine operators to disclose the date of, results of, and any corrective action needed to pass the most recent vehicle inspection. The Federal Trade Commissions shall enforce the disclosure requirements.

To establish safety standards for certain limousines, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safety, Accountability, and Federal 
Enforcement of Limos Act of 2021'' or the ``SAFE Limos Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMOUSINE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS.

    (a) Limousine Standards.--
            (1) Safety belt and seating system standards for 
        limousines.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a final 
        rule--
                    (A) that amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
                Standard Numbers 208, 209, and 210 to require to be 
                installed in limousines at each designated seating 
                position, including on side-facing seats--
                            (i) an occupant restraint system consisting 
                        of integrated lap shoulder belts; or
                            (ii) an occupant restraint system 
                        consisting of a lap belt if the occupant 
                        restraint system described in clause (i) does 
                        not meet the need for motor vehicle safety; and
                    (B) that amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
                Standard Number 207 to require limousines to meet 
                standards for seats (including side-facing seats), seat 
                attachment assemblies, and seat installation to 
                minimize the possibility of their failure by forces 
                acting on them as a result of vehicle impact.
            (2) Report on retrofit assessment for limousines.--Not 
        later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
        the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
        Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
        that assesses the feasibility, benefits, and costs with respect 
        to the application of any requirement established under 
        paragraph (1) to a limousine introduced into interstate 
        commerce before the date on which the requirement takes effect.
    (b) Safety Regulation of Limousines.--
            (1) In general.--Section 30102(a)(6) of title 49, United 
        States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) modifying a passenger motor vehicle (as such 
                term is defined in section 32101) that has already been 
                purchased by the first purchaser (as such term is 
                defined in subsection (b)) by increasing the wheelbase 
                of the vehicle so that the vehicle has increased 
                seating capacity.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Limousine Compliance With Federal Safety Standards.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 301 of title 49, United States 
        Code, is amended by inserting after section 30128 the 
        following:
``Sec. 30129. Limousine compliance with Federal safety standards
    ``(a) Requirement.--Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this section, a limousine remodeler may not 
offer for sale, lease, or rent, introduce or deliver for introduction 
into interstate commerce, or import into the United States a new 
limousine unless the limousine remodeler has submitted to the Secretary 
a vehicle remodeler plan (or an updated vehicle remodeler plan required 
by subsection (b), as applicable) that describes how the remodeler is 
mitigating risks to motor vehicle safety posed by the limousines of the 
remodeler. A vehicle remodeler plan shall include the following:
            ``(1) Verification and validation of compliance with 
        applicable motor vehicle safety standards.
            ``(2) Design, quality control, manufacturing, and training 
        practices adopted by the limousine remodeler.
            ``(3) Customer support guidelines, including instructions 
        for limousine occupants to wear seatbelts and limousine 
        operators to notify occupants of the date and results of the 
        most recent inspection of the limousine.
    ``(b) Updates.--Each limousine remodeler shall submit an updated 
vehicle remodeler plan to the Secretary each year.
    ``(c) Publicly Available.--The Secretary shall make any vehicle 
remodeler plan submitted under subsection (a) or (b) publicly available 
not later than 60 days after the date on which the plan is received, 
except the Secretary may not make publicly available any information 
relating to a trade secret or other confidential business information 
(as such terms are defined in section 512.3 of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)).
    ``(d) Review.--The Secretary may inspect any vehicle remodeler plan 
submitted by a limousine remodeler under subsection (a) or (b) to 
enable the Secretary to determine whether the limousine remodeler has 
complied, or is complying, with this chapter or a regulation prescribed 
or order issued pursuant to this chapter.
    ``(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed to affect discovery, a subpoena or other court order, or any 
other judicial process otherwise allowed under applicable Federal or 
State law.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions 
apply:
            ``(1) Certified passenger motor vehicle.--The term 
        `certified passenger motor vehicle' means a passenger motor 
        vehicle that has been certified in accordance with section 
        30115 to meet all applicable motor vehicle safety standards.
            ``(2) Incomplete vehicle.--The term `incomplete vehicle' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 567.3 of title 49, 
        Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
            ``(3) Limousine.--The term `limousine' means a motor 
        vehicle--
                    ``(A) that has a seating capacity of 9 or more 
                persons (including the driver);
                    ``(B) with a gross vehicle weight rating greater 
                than 10,000 pounds but not greater than 26,000 pounds; 
                and
                    ``(C) that the Secretary has determined by 
                regulation has physical characteristics resembling--
                            ``(i) a passenger car;
                            ``(ii) a multipurpose passenger vehicle; or
                            ``(iii) a truck with a gross vehicle weight 
                        rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
            ``(4) Limousine operator.--The term `limousine operator' 
        means a person who owns or leases, and uses, a limousine to 
        transport passengers for compensation.
            ``(5) Limousine remodeler.--The term `limousine remodeler' 
        means a person who alters or modifies by addition, 
        substitution, or removal of components (other than readily 
        attachable components) an incomplete vehicle, a vehicle 
        manufactured in two or more stages, or a certified passenger 
        motor vehicle before or after the first purchase of the vehicle 
        to manufacture a limousine.
            ``(6) Multipurpose passenger vehicle.--The term 
        `multipurpose passenger vehicle' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 571.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations 
        (or any successor regulation).
            ``(7) Passenger car.--The term `passenger car' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 571.3 of title 49, Code of 
        Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
            ``(8) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term `passenger motor 
        vehicle' has the meaning given such term in section 32101.
            ``(9) Truck.--The term `truck' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 571.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations 
        (or any successor regulation).''.
            (2) Enforcement.--Section 30165(a)(1) of title 49, United 
        States Code, is amended by inserting ``30129,'' after 
        ``30127,''.
            (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for 
        subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, 
        is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
        30128 the following:

``30129. Limousine compliance with Federal safety standards.''.
    (d) Limousine Crashworthiness.--
            (1) Research.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete research 
        into the development of motor vehicle safety standards for side 
        impact protection, roof crush resistance, and air bag systems 
        for the protection of occupants for limousines with alternative 
        seating positions, including perimeter seating arrangements.
            (2) Rulemaking or report.--
                    (A) Crashworthiness standards.--
                            (i) In general.--Not later than 2 years 
                        after the completion of the research required 
                        under paragraph (1), except as provided in 
                        clause (ii), the Secretary shall prescribe a 
                        final motor vehicle safety standard, for the 
                        protection of occupants in limousines with 
                        alternative seating positions, for each of the 
                        following:
                                    (I) Side impact protection.
                                    (II) Roof crush resistance.
                                    (III) Air bag systems.
                            (ii) Requirements and considerations.--The 
                        Secretary may only prescribe a motor vehicle 
                        safety standard described in clause (i) if the 
                        Secretary determines that such standard meets 
                        the requirements and considerations set forth 
                        in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of 
                        title 49, United States Code.
                    (B) Report.--If the Secretary determines that a 
                standard described in subparagraph (A)(i) does not meet 
                the requirements and considerations set forth in 
                subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, 
                United States Code, the Secretary shall publish in the 
                Federal Register and submit to the Committee on Energy 
                and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
                the Senate a report describing the reasons for not 
                prescribing such standard.
    (e) Limousine Evacuation.--
            (1) Research.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete research 
        into safety features and standards that aid evacuation in the 
        event that one exit in the passenger compartment of a limousine 
        is blocked.
            (2) Standards.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a 
        final motor vehicle safety standard based on the results of the 
        research under paragraph (1).
    (f) Limousine Inspection Disclosure.--
            (1) In general.--A limousine operator may not introduce a 
        limousine into interstate commerce unless the limousine 
        operator has prominently disclosed in a clear and conspicuous 
        notice, including on the website of the operator if the 
        operator has a website, the following:
                    (A) The date of the most recent inspection of the 
                limousine required under State or Federal law.
                    (B) The results of the inspection.
                    (C) Any corrective action taken by the limousine 
                operator to ensure the limousine passed inspection.
            (2) Federal trade commission enforcement.--The Federal 
        Trade Commission shall enforce this subsection 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 
        subsection. Any person who violates this subsection shall be 
        subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and 
        immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 
        U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
            (3) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
        construed to limit the authority of the Federal Trade 
        Commission under any other provision of law.
            (4) Effective date.--This subsection shall take effect 180 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (g) Event Data Recorders for Limousines.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a 
        final motor vehicle safety standard requiring the use of event 
        data recorders for limousines.
            (2) Privacy protections.--Any standard prescribed under 
        paragraph (1) pertaining to event data recorder information 
        shall be consistent with the collection and sharing 
        requirements under the FAST Act (Public Law 114-94) and any 
        other applicable law.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Event data recorder.--The term ``event data recorder'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 563.5 of title 49, 
        Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
            (2) Limousine.--The term ``limousine'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 30129 of title 49, United States 
        Code, as added by this section.
            (3) Limousine operator.--The term ``limousine operator'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 30129 of title 49, 
        United States Code, as added by this section.
            (4) Limousine remodeler.--The term ``limousine remodeler'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 30129 of title 49, 
        United States Code, as added by this section.
            (5) Motor vehicle.--The term ``motor vehicle'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 30102(a) of title 49, United 
        States Code.
            (6) Motor vehicle safety standard.--The term ``motor 
        vehicle safety standard'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
            (8) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code.
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