International Travelers Bill of Rights Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-1370
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-5]
Introduced: 2013-03-21
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Consumer affairs

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Health care quality

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Travel and tourism
Latest action: action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-03-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>International Travelers Bill of Rights Act of 2013 - Requires an individual or entity that operates a website that provides access to international travel services to provide on its website, in a clear and conspicuous way, information regarding the health and safety risks of overseas vacation destinations marketed on the site, including (1) information compiled by the Department of State that includes country-specific travel warnings and alerts, and (2) information on the availability of onsite health and safety services or a disclaimer that such services may not be available and travel may pose an increased risk to health or safety. </p> <p>Requires a site operator to: (1) establish a process under which an overseas vacation destination will be suspended from its website as a result of consumer complaints regarding poor medical care, unsafe or unsanitary facilities, or other health-related issues; and (2) make all such complaints publicly available on its website. Allows an operator to modify complaints at the request of the complainant and to remove offensive language and personal identification information.</p> <p>Treats a violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1370 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 21, 2013 Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Cummings , and Mr. Rush ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To require a site operator of an international travel Web site to provide information on its Web site to consumers regarding the potential health and safety risks associated with overseas vacation destinations marketed on its Web site.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the International Travelers Bill of Rights Act of 2013 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Site operator The term site operator means an individual or entity that operates a Web site that provides access to international travel services. Such term includes an overseas vacation destination or a third party that operates a Web site that offers international travel services. (2) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission. (3) International travel services The term international travel services means a service that a consumer can use to reserve lodging at an overseas vacation destination. (4) Overseas vacation Destination The term overseas vacation destination means a resort, hotel, retreat, hostel, or any other similar lodging located outside the United States. (5) United States The term United States means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 3. Providing information regarding the potential health and safety risks associated with overseas vacation destinations (a) In general A site operator, in a manner in compliance with regulations issued by the Commission and with the requirements of this Act, shall provide information on its Web site to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner regarding the potential health and safety risks associated with overseas vacation destinations marketed on its Web site, if any, including the following: (1) Information compiled by the Department of State, including Department of State country-specific travel warnings and alerts. (2) Information regarding the onsite health and safety services that are available to consumers at each overseas vacation destination, including whether the destination— (A) employs or contracts with a physician or nurse on the premises to provide medical treatment for guests; (B) employs or contracts with personnel, other than a physician, nurse, or lifeguard, on the premises who are trained in car­dio­pul­mo­nary resuscitation; (C) has an automated external defibrillator and employs or contracts with 1 or more individuals on the premises trained in its use; and (D) employs or contracts with 1 or more lifeguards on the premises trained in car­dio­pul­mo­nary resuscitation, if the overseas vacation destination has swimming pools or other water-based activities on its premises, or in areas under its control for use by guests. (b) Services not available 24 hours a day If the onsite health and safety services at an overseas vacation destination are not available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the site operator shall display the hours and days of availability on its Web site in a clear and conspicuous manner. (c) Information not available If the onsite health and safety services described in subsection (a)(2) are not available at an overseas vacation destination, or if the site operator does not possess information on the onsite health and safety services required to be displayed on its Web site, the site operator shall display in a clear and conspicuous manner the following: This destination does not provide certain health and safety services, or information regarding such services is not available. Travel to this destination may pose an increased risk to your health or safety. . 4. Consumer Complaints (a) Suspension A site operator shall establish a process under which an overseas vacation destination will be suspended from its Web site as a result of complaints from consumers to the site operator regarding poor medical care, unsafe or unsanitary facilities, or other health-related issues with respect to such destination. (b) Public availability A site operator shall make all complaints submitted by consumers publicly available on its Web site and may modify the contents of such complaints at the request of the complainant or may remove offensive language and personal identification information. 5. Enforcement (a) In general A violation of any provision of this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act ( 15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B) ). The Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made a part of this Act. (b) Deadline for issuance of regulations The Commission shall issue regulations to carry out this Act not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.