Title: Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Passenger Rail Crew Protection Parity Act
This bill makes it unlawful for any person, while on a passenger train to: (1) assault or intimidate a crew member, and thereby interfere with the performance of the duties of a crew member or lessen the ability of a crew member to perform those duties; or (2) attempt or conspire to perform such an act. A violator is subject to a fine or a prison term of up to 20 years, or both, or life imprisonment if a dangerous weapon is used in assaulting or intimidating the crew member.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2861 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2861

  To prosecute, as a Federal crime, the assault or intimidation of a 
passenger train crew member to the same extent as such actions against 
                 aircraft crew members are prosecuted.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 16, 2018

  Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. Hoeven) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To prosecute, as a Federal crime, the assault or intimidation of a 
passenger train crew member to the same extent as such actions against 
                 aircraft crew members are prosecuted.

    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 ``Passenger Rail Crew Protection 
Parity Act''.

SEC. 2. INTERFERENCE WITH PASSENGER TRAIN CREW MEMBERS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 281 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 28104. Interference with passenger train crew members
    ``(a) Offense.--It shall be unlawful for any person, while on a 
passenger train--
            ``(1) to assault or intimidate a crew member, and thereby 
        interfere with the performance of the duties of a crew member 
        or lessen the ability of a crew member to perform those duties; 
        or
            ``(2) to attempt or conspire to perform an act described in 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Penalties.--A person who violates subsection (a)--
            ``(1) shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not 
        more than 20 years, or both; and
            ``(2) if a dangerous weapon is used in assaulting or 
        intimidating the crew member, shall be imprisoned for any term 
        of years or for life.
    ``(c) Training.--Each passenger rail carrier is encouraged to 
review training programs of the rail carrier and provide, as necessary, 
additional training in areas such as de-escalating hostile situations, 
written protocols on dealing with hostile situations, and reporting of 
incidents.
    ``(d) Definition of Crew Member.--In this section, the term `crew 
member' includes engineers, conductors, on-board service personnel, and 
similar employees assigned to duty on an in-service passenger train.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 281 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``28104. Interference with passenger train crew members.''.
                                 <all>