Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road Act
Bill: S.1531 | Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. (D-NY)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road Act
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to award grants to states that have enacted and are enforcing laws that require the impoundment or immobilization of stretch limousines if such limousines are found to have certain defects upon inspection.

To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of 
  Transportation to award grants to States that have enacted and are 
  enforcing certain laws with respect to stretch 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 ``Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road 
Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SAFETY OF STRETCH LIMOUSINES.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 311 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 31162. Grant program for safety of stretch limousines
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible defect.--The term `eligible defect' means a 
        defect that would cause a motor vehicle to fail a commercial 
        motor vehicle safety inspection.
            ``(2) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term `passenger motor 
        vehicle' has the meaning given the term in section 32101.
            ``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
            ``(4) Stretch limousine.--The term `stretch limousine' 
        means a new or used passenger motor vehicle that--
                    ``(A) has been modified, altered, or extended in a 
                manner that increases the overall wheelbase of the 
                vehicle--
                            ``(i) beyond the wheelbase dimension of the 
                        original equipment manufacturer for the base 
                        model and year of the vehicle; and
                            ``(ii) to a length sufficient to 
                        accommodate additional passengers; and
                    ``(B) after being altered as described in 
                subparagraph (A), has a seating capacity of not fewer 
                than 9 passengers, including the driver.
    ``(b) Grant Program.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall make a 
grant, in accordance with this section, to each State that is eligible 
for a grant under subsection (c).
    ``(c) Eligibility.--A State is eligible for a grant under this 
section for a fiscal year if, on October 1 of that fiscal year, the 
State--
            ``(1) has enacted a law that requires the impoundment or 
        immobilization of a stretch limousine that is found to have an 
        eligible defect on inspection; and
            ``(2) is enforcing the law described in paragraph (1), as 
        determined by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Grant Amounts.--
            ``(1) In general.--Beginning on October 1 of the first 
        fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this 
        section, the Secretary shall apportion the amounts appropriated 
        to carry out this section to each State that is eligible to 
        receive a grant under subsection (c) in an amount that is equal 
        to the quotient obtained by dividing--
                    ``(A) the difference between--
                            ``(i) $5,000,000; and
                            ``(ii) the total amount provided to States 
                        under paragraph (2); and
                    ``(B) the number of States eligible for a grant 
                under subsection (c) for the fiscal year.
            ``(2) Increase of grant amounts.--Beginning on October 1 of 
        the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of 
        this section, a State that is eligible for a grant under 
        subsection (c) may receive an additional $50,000 in grant funds 
        if, on October 1 of that fiscal year, the State has enacted and 
        is enforcing a law or regulation that requires--
                    ``(A) any safety inspection of a stretch limousine 
                to be conducted at a designated site controlled by the 
                State; and
                    ``(B) the inspection described in subparagraph (A) 
                to be conducted by employees trained in the inspection 
                of stretch limousines.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--A State receiving a grant under this section 
may use grant amounts--
            ``(1) for the impoundment or immobilization of a stretch 
        limousine;
            ``(2) for the establishment and operating expenses of 
        designated stretch limousine safety inspection sites; or
            ``(3) to train employees in the inspection of stretch 
        limousines.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $5,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for subchapter IV of chapter 
311 of title 49 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 31161 the following:

``31162. Grant program for safety of stretch limousines.''.
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