[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1531 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1531
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Transportation to award grants to States that have enacted and are
enforcing certain laws with respect to stretch limousines, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 10, 2021
Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Transportation to award grants to States that have enacted and are
enforcing certain laws with respect to stretch limousines, 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 ``Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road
Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SAFETY OF STRETCH LIMOUSINES.
(a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 311 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 31162. Grant program for safety of stretch limousines
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible defect.--The term `eligible defect' means a
defect that would cause a motor vehicle to fail a commercial
motor vehicle safety inspection.
``(2) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term `passenger motor
vehicle' has the meaning given the term in section 32101.
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
``(4) Stretch limousine.--The term `stretch limousine'
means a new or used passenger motor vehicle that--
``(A) has been modified, altered, or extended in a
manner that increases the overall wheelbase of the
vehicle--
``(i) beyond the wheelbase dimension of the
original equipment manufacturer for the base
model and year of the vehicle; and
``(ii) to a length sufficient to
accommodate additional passengers; and
``(B) after being altered as described in
subparagraph (A), has a seating capacity of not fewer
than 9 passengers, including the driver.
``(b) Grant Program.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall make a
grant, in accordance with this section, to each State that is eligible
for a grant under subsection (c).
``(c) Eligibility.--A State is eligible for a grant under this
section for a fiscal year if, on October 1 of that fiscal year, the
State--
``(1) has enacted a law that requires the impoundment or
immobilization of a stretch limousine that is found to have an
eligible defect on inspection; and
``(2) is enforcing the law described in paragraph (1), as
determined by the Secretary.
``(d) Grant Amounts.--
``(1) In general.--Beginning on October 1 of the first
fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this
section, the Secretary shall apportion the amounts appropriated
to carry out this section to each State that is eligible to
receive a grant under subsection (c) in an amount that is equal
to the quotient obtained by dividing--
``(A) the difference between--
``(i) $5,000,000; and
``(ii) the total amount provided to States
under paragraph (2); and
``(B) the number of States eligible for a grant
under subsection (c) for the fiscal year.
``(2) Increase of grant amounts.--Beginning on October 1 of
the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of
this section, a State that is eligible for a grant under
subsection (c) may receive an additional $50,000 in grant funds
if, on October 1 of that fiscal year, the State has enacted and
is enforcing a law or regulation that requires--
``(A) any safety inspection of a stretch limousine
to be conducted at a designated site controlled by the
State; and
``(B) the inspection described in subparagraph (A)
to be conducted by employees trained in the inspection
of stretch limousines.
``(e) Use of Funds.--A State receiving a grant under this section
may use grant amounts--
``(1) for the impoundment or immobilization of a stretch
limousine;
``(2) for the establishment and operating expenses of
designated stretch limousine safety inspection sites; or
``(3) to train employees in the inspection of stretch
limousines.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for subchapter IV of chapter
311 of title 49 is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 31161 the following:
``31162. Grant program for safety of stretch limousines.''.
<all>