Joint resolution to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of the existing compensation system for motor vehicle accident losses, and for other purposes
PL 90-313 (S.J.Res.129), enacted 05/22/1968

126 
PUBLIC LAW 90-313-MAY 22, 1968 
[82 STAT. 
Public Law 90-313 
May 22, 1968 
[S.J. Res. 129] 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Motor vehicle 
accident compen-
sation system. 
Study. 
Reports to 
President and 
Congress. 
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive study 
and investigation of the existing compensation system for motor vehicle 
accident losses, and for other purposes. 
Whereas Congress finds that suffering and loss of life resulting from 
motor vehicle accidents and the consequent social and economic 
dislocations are critical national problems; and 
AVhereas there is growing evidence that the existing system of com-
pensation for such loss and suffering is inequitable, inadequate, and 
insufficient and is unresponsive to existing social, economic, and 
technological conditions; and 
Whereas there is needed a fundamental reevaluation of such system, 
including a review of the role and effectiveness of insurance and the 
existing law governing liability; and 
Whereas meaningful analysis requires the collection and evaluation of 
data not presently available such as the actual economic impact of 
motor vehicle injuries, the relief available both from public and 
private sources, and the role and effectiveness of rehabilitation: 
Xow, therefore, be it 
Resolved hy the deviate and Hoiine of Representatives 
of the United 
/States of America in Congress assembled. That (a) the Secretary of 
Transportation (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary"), in coop-
eration with those other Federal agencies which possess relevant com-
petencies, as provided in section 4, is authorized and directed to conduct 
a comprehensive study and investigation of all relevant aspects of the 
existing motor vehicle accident compensation system. Such study and 
investigation shall include consideration of the following— 
(1) the inadequacies of such existing compensation system in 
theory and practice; 
(2) the public policy objectives to be realized by such a system, 
including an analysis of the costs and benefits, both monetary and 
otherwise; 
(3) the most effective means for realizing such objectives; 
(4) the oftentimes arbitrary and capricious cancellation or 
refusal to renew automobile insurance policies or the refusal to 
issue such policies without stated cause; 
(5) the constant and costly increases in premiums for auto-
mobile insurance; 
(6) the disparity between the amounts paid as premiums and 
the amounts paid out for claims; 
(7) the frequent insolvencies of companies engaged in provid-
ing automobile insurance; 
(8) lon^ delays in processing and paying claims arising out of 
motor vehicle accidents; and 
(9) the efficiency and adequacy of present State insurance 
regulatory institutions. 
(b) The Secretary shall submit to the President and to the Congress 
interim reports from time to time and a final report not later than 
twenty-four months after the date of enactment of this joint resolution. 
Such final report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings, 
ccnclusions, and recommendations of the Secretary, and may propose 
such legislation or other action as the Secretary considers necessary 
to carry out his recommendations. 
82 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 90-313-MAY 22, 1968 
127 
ADMIKIS'J'RATIVE 1K)WERS 
SEC. 
'1. 
In order to carry out his functions under this joint resohition, 
the Secretary is authorized to— 
(1) appoint and fix the compensation of such employees as he 
deems necessary without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
States Code, governing appointment in the competitive service and 
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter I I I 
of chapter 58 of such title relating to classification and General 
Schedule pay rates; 
(2) obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance 
with the provisions of section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 
but at rates for individuals not to exceed $100 per diem; 
(3) enter into contracts with corporations, business firms, insti-
tuticms, and individuals for the conduct of research and survej^s 
and the preparation of reports; and 
(4) api^oint, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive services, 
such advisory committees, representative of the divergent interests 
involved, as he deems appropriate for the purpose of consultation 
with and advice to the Secretary. 
Members of ad\'isory committees appointed under paragraph (4) of 
this section, other than those regularly employed by the Federal 
(xovernment, while attending meetings of such committees or other-
wise serving at the request of the Secretary, may be compensated at 
rates to be fixed by the Secretary but not exceeding $100 per day, 
and Avhile away from home or regular place of business they may be 
allowed travel expenses, ijicluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, as 
authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons 
in the Government service employed intermittently. Membei-s of such 
advisory committees shall, for the purposes of chapter 11, title 18, 
United States Code, be deemed to be special (xovernment employees. 
Personnel. 
5 u s e 5101-
5115; 5331-
5338. 
80 Stat. 416. 
Contracts. 
Advisory com-
mittees. 
76 Stat. 1119. 
18 u s e 201-224. 
C(K)PERATI(»N OF FEDERAL AGENCIES 
SEC. 3. (a) The Secretary is authorized to request from any depart-
ment, agency, or independent instrumentality of the Government any 
information he deems necessary to carry out his functions under this 
joint resolution; and each such department, agency, or independent 
instrumentality is authorized and directed to cooperate with the Sec-
retary and to furnish such information to the Department of Trans-
portation upon request made by the Secretary. 
(b) The head of any Federal department, agency, or independent 
instrumentality is authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any 
personnel of such department, agency, or independent instrumentality 
to assist in carrying out the duties of the Secretary under this joint 
resolution. 
I N T E K A ( ; E N C Y ADVISORY COMMITraE 
SEC. 4. The President shall appoint an Interagency Advisory Com-
mittee on Compensation for Motor Vehicle Accident Losses consisting 
of the Secretary wlio shall be (^hairman and one representative each 
of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, Labor, Health, Education, 
and Welfare, and Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Trade 
Commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the Securities 
and Exchange Commission, and such other Federal agencies as are 
designated by the President. Such members shall, to the extent possible, 
Information. 
Detail of per-
sonnel. 
128 
PUBLIC LAW 90-313-MAY 22, 1968 
[82 STAT. 
be persons knowledgeable in the field of compeusation for motor vehicle 
accident losses. The Advisory Committee shall advise the Secretary on 
the preparation for and the conduct of the study authorized by this 
joint resolution. 
Subpena power, 
etc. 
Access to evi-
dence. 
Filing of re-
ports. 
Compliance 
order. 
Witnesses, com-
pensation. 
Confidential in-
formation. 
62 Stat. 791. 
HEARINGS AND PRODUCTION OF IXK'UMENTARY EVIDENCE 
SEC. 5. (a) For the purpose of can-ying out the provisions of this 
joint resolution the Secretary, or on the authorization of the Secretary 
any officer or employee of the l)epartment of Transportation, may hold 
such hearings, take such testimony, sit and act ait such times and places, 
adminisiter such oaths, and require, by subpena or otherwise, the at-
tendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such 
books, papei"s, correspondence, memorandums, contracts, agreements, 
or other records as the Secretary, or such officer or employee, deems 
advisable. 
(b) In order to carry out the provisions of this joint resolution, the 
Secretary or his duly authorized agent shall at all reasonable times 
have access to, and for the purposes of examination the right to copy, 
any documentary evidence of any corporation, business firm, institu-
tion, or individual having materials or information relevant to the 
study authorized by this joint resolution. 
(c) The Secretary is authorized to require, by general or special or-
ders, any corporation, business firm, or individual or any class of such 
corporation, firms, or individuals to file, in such form as the Seci-etary 
may prescribe, reports or answers in writing to specific questions relat-
ing to the study authorized by this joint resolution. Such reports and 
answers shall be made under oath or otherwise, and shall be filed with 
the Seci-etai-y within such reasonable period as the Secretary may pre-
scribe. 
(d) Any of the district courts of the United States within the 
jurisdiction of w^hich an inquiry is carried on may, in case of con-
tumacy or refusal to obey a subpena or order of the Secretary or such 
officer or employee issued under subsection (a) or subsection (c) of this 
section, issue an order requiring compliance therewith; and any failure 
to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a 
contempt thereof. 
(e) Witnesses summoned pui*suant to this section shall be paid the 
same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the 
United States. 
(f) Any information -which is reported to or otherwise obtained by 
the Secretary or such officer or employee under this section and which 
contains or relates to a trade secret or other matter referred to in section 
1905 of title 18 of the United States Code, shall not be disclosed except 
to other officers or employees of the Federal Government for their use 
in carrying out this joint resolution. Nothing in the preceding sentence 
shall authorize the withholding of information by the Secretary (or 
any officer or employee under his control) from the duly authorized 
committees of the Congress. 
TERMINATION 
SEC. (). The authority of the Secretary under this joint resolution 
shall tenninate ninety days after the submission of his final report 
under subsection (b) of the first section. 
82 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 90-315-MAY 24, 1968 
129 
A PriJOPKIATlONS 
AUTHORIZED 
SEC. 7. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated, without 
fiscal year limitation, such sums, not to exceed $2,000,000, as may be 
necessary to cai'iy out the provisions of this joint resohition. 
Approved May 22, 1968. 
Public Law 90-314 
AN ACT 
May 23, 1968 
To amend the Amis CNwitrol and Disarmament Act, as ajuended, in order to 
[H. R. 14940] 
extend the authorization for appropriations. 
Be it emwted hy the l^iewite and Houae of RepreiseMtattres of the 
United States of America 
in CongrenH asnetribJed^ That the second 
sentence of section 49(a) of the Arms Control and DisaiTnament Act, 
as amended (22 L^.S-C. 2589(a)), is amended by inserting immediately 
after "$80,000,000", the following: ", and for the two fiscal years 1969 
through 1970, the sum of $18,500,0(K),-'. 
(b) Section 49(a) of such Act is amended by inserting at the end 
thereof a new sentence as follows: "Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of this Act, not more than $7,000,000 of the funds appropriated 
pui'suant to the preceding sentence for fiscal years 1969 through 1970 
may be used for the purpose of research, development, and other 
studies conducted in whole or in part outside the Agency, whether 
by other government agencies or by public or private institutions or 
persons: Provided^ That this limitation shall not apply to field test 
activities conducted pursuant to the authority of this Act.'' 
Approved May 23, 1968. 
Arms Control 
and Disarmament 
Act, amendment. 
79 Stat. 118. 
Public Law 90-315 
AN ACT 
To increase the authorization for appropriation for continuing work in the 
.Missouri River Basin Ity the Secretary of the Interior. 
May 24, 1968 
[S.3033] 
Be it emwted hy the Semite and Ho'me of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That there is hereby 3^^^^°"'^' ^'^*'^ 
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 1969 and 1970 the sum 
Appropriation 
of $59,(M)(),000 for continuing the work m the Missouri River Basin authorization, in-
to be undertaken by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the 
comprehensive plan adopted by section 9(a) of the Act approved 
De<*eml7er 22, 1944 (Public Law Numbered 534, Seventy-eighth Con-
gress), lus amended and supplemented by subsequent Acts of Con-
gress. Xo part of the funds hereby authorized to be appropriated shall 
l)e available to initiate construction of any unit of the Missouri River 
Basin project, whether included in said comprehensive plan or not. 
Approved May 24, 1968. 
58 Stat. 891 i 
81 Stat. 228.