[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2110 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2110
To establish a process for survivors to request the termination or
disabling of connected vehicle services that abusers misuse, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 14, 2025
Mrs. Dingell (for herself, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Min, Mr. Thanedar, Ms.
Ross, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Salinas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Titus, Mr.
Gottheimer, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Norton, and Ms.
Stevens) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a process for survivors to request the termination or
disabling of connected vehicle services that abusers misuse, 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 ``Safe Vehicle Access for Survivors
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Abuser.--The term ``abuser'' means an individual
identified by a survivor, pursuant to section 4, who has
committed or allegedly committed a covered act against a
survivor making a connected vehicle services request.
(2) Account holder.--The term ``account holder'' means an
individual who is--
(A) a party to a contract with a covered provider
that involves a connected vehicle service; or
(B) a subscriber, customer, or registered user of a
connected vehicle service.
(3) Connected vehicle service.--The term ``connected
vehicle service'' means any capability provided by or on behalf
of a motor vehicle manufacturer or affiliate that enables a
person to remotely obtain data from or send commands to a
covered vehicle, which may be accomplished through a software
application that is designed to be operated on a mobile device
or computer.
(4) Connected vehicle service request.--The term
``connected vehicle service request'' means a request by a
survivor to terminate or disable an abuser's access to a
connected vehicle service.
(5) Covered act.--
(A) In general.--The term ``covered act'' means
conduct that constitutes--
(i) a crime described in section 40002(a)
of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34
U.S.C. 12291(a)), including domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and
sex trafficking;
(ii) an act or practice described in
paragraph (11) or (12) of section 103 of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22
U.S.C. 7102) (relating to severe forms of
trafficking in persons and sex trafficking,
respectively); or
(iii) an act under State law, Tribal law,
or the Uniform Code of Military Justice that is
similar to an offense described in clause (i)
or (ii).
(B) Conviction not required.--Nothing in paragraph
(1) shall be construed to require a criminal conviction
or any other determination of a court in order for
conduct to constitute a covered act.
(6) Covered connected vehicle service account.--The term
``covered connected vehicle services account'' means an account
or other means by which a person enrolls in or obtains access
to a connected vehicle service.
(7) Covered provider.--The term ``covered provider'' means
a motor vehicle manufacturer, affiliate, or an entity acting on
behalf of the motor vehicle manufacturer that provides a
connected vehicle service.
(8) Covered vehicle.--The term ``covered vehicle'' means a
motor vehicle that is the subject of a connected vehicle
request and identified by a survivor pursuant to section 4.
(9) Emergency situation.--The term ``emergency situation''
means a situation that if allowed to continue poses an imminent
threat of serious bodily harm or death to an individual.
(10) In-vehicle interface.--The term ``in-vehicle
interface'' means a feature or mechanism installed in a vehicle
that allows a person within the vehicle to terminate or
disconnect connected vehicle services.
(11) Survivor.--The term ``survivor'' means an individual
who is not less than 18 years old and against whom a covered
act has been committed or allegedly committed.
(12) Affiliate.--The term ``affiliate'' means any company
that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with another company.
SEC. 3. PROTECTION OF SURVIVORS.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding an abuser being an account holder,
not later than 2 business days after receiving a connected vehicle
service request from a survivor pursuant to section 4, a covered
provider shall take 1 or more of the following actions--
(1) terminate or disable a covered connected vehicle
service account associated with an abuser identified in the
connected vehicle service request pursuant to section 4;
(2) terminate or disable a covered connected vehicle
service account associated with the covered vehicle, including
by resetting or deleting any data or wireless connection with
respect to the covered vehicle, and provide instructions to the
survivor on how to re-establish a connected vehicle service
account that does not include access by the abuser;
(3) terminate or disable covered connected vehicle services
for the covered vehicle, including by resetting or deleting any
data or wireless connection with respect to the covered
vehicle, and provide instructions to the survivor on how to re-
establish connected vehicle services; or
(4) if the vehicle has an in-vehicle interface, provide
information to the survivor about the availability of the in-
vehicle interface and how to terminate or disable connected
vehicle services using the in-vehicle interface.
(b) Access to Account Data.--If a covered provider takes action
under subsection (a) in response to a connected vehicle service
request, the covered provider shall deny a request from the abuser to
obtain any data connected to the connected vehicle service maintained
by the covered provider that was generated after the abuser's access to
the connected vehicle services was terminated or disabled following a
connected vehicle service request.
(c) Limitations on Penalties, Fees, and Other Requirements.--A
covered provider may not make any action undertaken pursuant to
subsection (a) contingent on any requirement other than the
requirements under section 4, including--
(1) payment of a fee, penalty, or other charge;
(2) maintaining or extending the term of a connected
vehicle service account;
(3) approval of the change by the account holder, if the
account holder is not the survivor; or
(4) an increase in the rate charged for the connected
vehicle service.
(d) Notice to Survivor.--
(1) In general.--If a covered provider intends to provide
any formal notice to the abuser regarding any action undertaken
pursuant to subsection (a), the covered provider shall notify
the survivor of the date on which the covered provider intends
to give such notice to the abuser.
(2) Timing.--A covered provider shall take reasonable steps
to provide any formal notice to an abuser pursuant to paragraph
(1)--
(A) no less than 3 days after the survivor has been
notified; and
(B) only after the abuser's access to the connected
vehicle service has been terminated or disabled.
(3) Manner of contact.--When completing a connected vehicle
service request, a covered provider shall allow the survivor to
elect the manner in which the covered provider may--
(A) contact the survivor in response to the
request, if necessary; or
(B) notify the survivor of the inability of the
covered provider to complete the connected vehicle
service request.
(e) Technical Infeasibility.--
(1) In general.--The requirement to effectuate the
requested action in subsection (a) shall not apply to a covered
provider if the covered provider cannot operationally or
technically effectuate the request.
(2) Notification.--If a covered provider cannot
operationally or technically effectuate the request as
described in paragraph (1), the covered provider shall--
(A) promptly notify the survivor who submitted the
connected vehicle service request of that
infeasibility; and
(B) provide the survivor with information about
whether the operational or technical infeasibility can
be remedied and, if so, any steps the survivor can take
to assist in remedying such infeasibility.
SEC. 4. CONNECTED VEHICLE SERVICE REQUESTS.
(a) In General.--When making a connected vehicle service request
under this Act, the survivor shall provide--
(1) the vehicle identification number of the covered
vehicle;
(2) the name of the abuser subject to the connected vehicle
service request; and
(3) either--
(A) proof of sole ownership of the covered vehicle;
or
(B) in the case of a vehicle that is not solely
owned by the survivor--
(i) proof of exclusive legal possession of
the vehicle, which may take the form of a court
order awarding possession of the vehicle to the
survivor; or
(ii) in the case of a vehicle that is owned
in whole or in part by the abuser, a
dissolution decree, temporary order, or
domestic violence restraining order naming the
abuser if the decree or order grants possession
of the covered vehicle to the survivor or
restricts the abuser's use of a connected
vehicle service against the survivor.
(b) Confidential and Secure Treatment of Personal Information.--
(1) In general.--A covered provider and any officer,
director, employee, vendor, or agent thereof shall treat any
information submitted by a survivor under subsection (a) as
confidential and securely dispose of the information not later
than 90 days after receiving the information.
(2) Prohibition on sharing.--A covered provider is
prohibited from sharing information submitted by a survivor
under subsection (a) with any third party without the
affirmative consent of the survivor unless such sharing is
required to effectuate a connected vehicle service request
under subsection (a).
(3) Information provided by survivor.--A covered provider
shall not require a survivor to provide any information other
than what is required in subdivision (a) to establish the
ability to terminate an abuser's access to connected vehicle
services.
(4) Rule of construction.--
(A) In general.--Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be
construed to prohibit a covered provider from
maintaining, for longer than the period specified in
that paragraph, a record that verifies that a survivor
fulfilled the conditions of a connected vehicle service
request under subsection (a).
(B) Data minimization.--The data maintained under
subparagraph (A) shall be limited to that which is
reasonably necessary and proportionate to verify that a
survivor fulfilled the conditions of a connected
vehicle service request.
(c) Minimum Obligations.--The requirements in this Act shall not
prohibit or prevent a covered provider from terminating or disabling an
abuser's access to connected vehicle services in emergency situations
after receiving a connected vehicle service request.
(d) Changes in Ownership or Possession.--The survivor shall take
reasonable steps to notify the covered provider of any change in
ownership or possession from what was provided under subsection (a)
when the connected vehicle service request was made that materially
impacts the need for action taken by the covered provider under
subsection 3(a).
SEC. 5. CONSUMER NOTICES.
(a) In General.--To enhance transparency and communication, a
covered provider shall make information about how survivors can safely
make connected vehicle service requests on a publicly available, user-
friendly website maintained by a covered provider, including--
(1) Confirmation email.--Upon submission of a connected
vehicle service request, the covered provider shall
automatically send a confirmation email to the survivor,
acknowledging the receipt of the connected vehicle service
request. This email shall contain a reference number for the
request and an outline of the subsequent steps in the process.
(2) Action or resolution alert.--Upon completion of review
of the request, the survivor shall be informed of the action
taken, including the termination of access to the connected
vehicle service or if additional information is needed. This
alert shall clearly state any relevant details or further
actions required from the survivor.
(3) Explanation and assistance.--In the event of a
connected vehicle service request's approval, the covered
provider shall provide the survivor with a clear explanation
and guidance on how to create their own app account, if
necessary, to ensure that the survivor can maintain control
over the connected vehicle service once the person's access to
the service has been terminated.
(4) Opt-out measures.--In the event that an abuser still
has access to a survivor's email account, the covered provider
shall provide the option to ``opt-out'' of receiving notices
regarding the connected vehicle service request process, and to
the best of their ability, provide alternative options for the
survivor to maintain a record of the request process.
SEC. 6. LIABILITY PROTECTION.
A covered provider and any officer, director, employee, vendor, or
agent thereof shall not be subject to liability for any claims deriving
from an action taken or omission made with respect to compliance with
this Act.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
A covered provider--
(1) may comply with this Act beginning on the date of
enactment; and
(2) shall comply with this Act no later than 180 days after
the date of enactment.
SEC. 8. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.
No state or political subdivision of a State may adopt, maintain,
enforce, prescribe, or continue in effect any law, regulation, rule,
standard, requirement, or other provision having the force and effect
of law of any State, or political subdivision of a State, covered by or
related to the provisions of this Act, or a rule, regulation or
requirement promulgated under this Act.
SEC. 9. RULEMAKING.
(a) Rulemaking Proceeding Required.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications
Commission, in consultation with the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to
prescribe how covered providers address connected vehicle service
requests and covered acts in accordance with this Act, including, but
not limited to--
(1) implementation of a reporting and notification process
that swiftly revokes or disables an abuser's access to a
survivor's data and takes into account--
(A) the heightened risk to a survivor for abuse and
retaliation upon reporting,
(B) the need for confidentiality in the reporting
process,
(C) the ability to remove sensitive data that has
already been stored in the connected vehicle service,
and
(D) the ability of an abuser to utilize other
methods, such as a service request, to access a
survivors' data.
(2) methods, as the Federal Communications Commission deems
reasonable, to notify account holders of connected vehicle
services of--
(A) the options available to enhance safety and
privacy of their experience with the service, and
(B) who can access their data and to what extent
they can control that access.
(b) Regulations.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in
consultation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
shall conclude the rulemaking proceeding initiated under subsection (a)
and shall prescribe regulations to implement the provisions regarding
how covered providers address connected vehicle service requests and
covered acts in accordance with this Act.
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