Title: HOT CARS Act of 2017
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats Act or the HOT CARS Act of 2017
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to issue a final rule to require that all new passenger motor vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds be equipped with a system for rear seating positions to alert (by an auditory and visual alert that may be combined with a haptic alert) the motor vehicle operator to check rear designated seating positions after the vehicle motor is deactivated.
A state shall use a portion of its highway safety program funds to educate the public on the risks of leaving a child or unattended passenger in a vehicle after the vehicle motor is deactivated.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2801 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2801

 To require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring 
  all new passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with a child safety 
                 alert system, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 7, 2017

     Mr. Ryan of Ohio (for himself, Mr. King of New York, and Ms. 
 Schakowsky) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring 
  all new passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with a child safety 
                 alert system, 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 ``Helping Overcome Trauma for Children 
Alone in Rear Seats Act'' or the ``HOT CARS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. CHILD SAFETY.

    (a) Amendment.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 323 of title 49, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding after section 32304A the following 
        new section:
``Sec. 32304B. Child safety
    ``(a) Rule Required.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue a final rule 
requiring all new passenger motor vehicles weighing less than 10,000 
pounds gross vehicle weight to be equipped with a system for rear 
seating positions to alert the operator to check rear designated 
seating positions after the vehicle motor is deactivated by the 
operator. The means shall include a distinct auditory and visual alert 
that may be combined with a haptic alert, and shall be activated after 
the vehicle motor is deactivated by the operator.
    ``(b) Phase-In.--The rule issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
require full compliance with the rule beginning on September 1st of the 
calendar year that begins 2 years after the date on which the final 
rule is issued.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term `passenger motor 
        vehicle' has the meaning given that term in section 32101.
            ``(2) Rear designated seating position.--The term `rear 
        designated seating position' means any designated seating 
        position that is rearward of the front seat.
            ``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter 323 of 
        title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
        relating to section 32304A and inserting the following new 
        items:

``32304A. Consumer tire information and standards.
``32304B. Child safety.''.
    (b) Awareness of Children in Motor Vehicles.--Section 402 of title 
23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after subsection (k) 
the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Unattended Passengers.--A State shall use a portion of the 
amounts received under this section to carry out a program to educate 
the public on the risks of leaving a child or unattended passenger in a 
vehicle after the vehicle motor is deactivated by the operator. A State 
does not need to carry out the program through its transportation or 
highway safety office.''.
                                 <all>