[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1601 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 404
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1601
[Report No. 116-204]
To direct 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 22, 2019
Mr. Wicker (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Schumer, Ms.
McSally, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr.
Brown, and Ms. Warren) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
January 13, 2020
Reported by Mr. Wicker, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct 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 of 2019'' or the ``HOT CARS Act of 2019''.
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:
``Sec. 32304B. Child safety
``(a) 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 designated seating positions
that are rearward of the front seat.
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
``(b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of the HOT CARS Act of 2019, 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 to
alert the operator to check rear designated seating positions after the
vehicle engine or motor is deactivated by the operator.
``(c) Means.--The alert required under subsection (b)--
``(1) shall include a distinct auditory and visual alert,
which may be combined with a haptic alert; and
``(2) shall be activated when the vehicle motor is
deactivated by the operator.
``(d) Phase-In.--The rule issued pursuant to subsection (b) shall
require full compliance with the rule beginning on September 1st of the
first calendar year that begins 2 years after the date on which the
final rule is issued.''.
(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:
``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:
``(l) Unattended Passengers.--
``(1) In general.--Each State shall use a portion of the
amounts it receives 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.
``(2) Program placement.--A State does not need to carry
out the program described in paragraph (1) through the State
transportation or highway safety office.''.
(c) Study and Report.--
(1) Independent study.--
(A) Agreement.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall enter into an agreement or
a contract with an independent third-party that
does not have any financial or contractual ties
with passenger motor vehicle manufacturers or
technology companies producing child reminder
alert systems to perform the services under
this paragraph.
(ii) Timing.--The Secretary shall enter
into the agreement or contract described in
clause (i) not later than the date that the
Secretary determines is the latest date by
which completion of the services under this
paragraph will allow the Secretary enough time
to prepare and submit the study required under
paragraph (2) in accordance with such
paragraph.
(B) Independent study.--
(i) In general.--Under an agreement between
the Secretary and an independent third-party
under this paragraph, the independent third-
party shall carry out a study on retrofitting
existing passenger motor vehicles with
technology to address the problem of children
left in rear designated seating positions of
motor vehicles after the motor vehicles have
been deactivated by the operator of the
vehicle.
(ii) Elements.--In carrying out the study
required under clause (i), the independent
third-party shall--
(I) survey and evaluate a variety
of methods used by current and emerging
aftermarket technology or products to
solve the problem of children being
left in a rear designated seating
position after the vehicle motor is
deactivated by the operator;
(II) make recommendations for
manufacturers of such technology or
products to undergo a functional safety
performance to ensure that the products
perform as designed by the manufacturer
under a variety of real world
conditions; and
(III) provide recommendations for
consumers on how to select such
technology or products in order to
retrofit existing vehicles.
(2) Report.--During the 180-day period beginning on the
date on which the Secretary of Transportation issues the final
rule required under section 32304B(b) of title 49, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall
submit the results of the study carried out under paragraph (1)
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives.
Calendar No. 404
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1601
[Report No. 116-204]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct 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.
_______________________________________________________________________
January 13, 2020
Reported without amendment