To direct the Secretary of Transportation to make grants for security improvements to over-the-road bus operations, and for other purposes.

February 25, 2003

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska (for himself, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. GRAVES, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. PASCRELL, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. SIMMONS, Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California, and Mr. PETRI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to make grants for security improvements to over-the-road bus operations, 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 `Over-the-Road Bus Security and Safety Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. EMERGENCY OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, shall establish a program for making grants to private operators of over-the-road buses for system-wide security improvements to their operations, including--

(1) constructing and modifying terminals, garages, facilities, or over-the-road buses to assure their security;

(2) protecting or isolating the driver;

(3) acquiring, upgrading, installing, or operating equipment, software, or accessorial services for collection, storage, or exchange of passenger and driver information through ticketing systems or otherwise, and information links with government agencies;

(4) training employees in recognizing and responding to security threats, evacuation procedures, passenger screening procedures, and baggage inspection;

(5) hiring and training security officers;

(6) installing cameras and video surveillance equipment on over-the-road buses and at terminals, garages, and over-the-road bus facilities;

(7) creating a program for employee identification or background investigation;

(8) establishing an emergency communications system linked to law enforcement and emergency personnel; and

(9) implementing and operating passenger screening programs at terminals and on over-the-road buses.

(b) REIMBURSEMENT- A grant under this Act may be used to provide reimbursement to private operators of over-the-road buses for extraordinary security-related costs for improvements described in paragraphs (1) through (9) of subsection (a), determined by the Secretary to have been incurred by such operators since September 11, 2001.

(c) FEDERAL SHARE- The Federal share of the cost for which any grant is made under this Act shall be 90 percent.

(d) DUE CONSIDERATION- In making grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give due consideration to private operators of over-the-road buses that have taken measures to enhance bus transportation security from those in effect before September 11, 2001.

(e) GRANT REQUIREMENTS- A grant under this Act shall be subject to all the terms and conditions that a grant is subject to under section 3038(f) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 note; 112 Stat. 393).

SEC. 3. PLAN REQUIREMENT.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may not make a grant under this Act to a private operator of over-the-road buses until the operator has first submitted to the Secretary--

(1) a plan for making security improvements described in section 2 and the Secretary has approved the plan; and

(2) such additional information as the Secretary may require to ensure accountability for the obligation and expenditure of amounts made available to the operator under the grant.

(b) COORDINATION- To the extent that an application for a grant under this section proposes security improvements within a specific terminal owned and operated by an entity other than the applicant, the applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the applicant has coordinated the security improvements for the terminal with that entity.

SEC. 4. OVER-THE-ROAD BUS DEFINED.

In this Act, the term `over-the-road bus' means a bus characterized by an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment.

SEC. 5. BUS SECURITY ASSESSMENT.

(a) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a preliminary report in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(b) CONTENTS OF PRELIMINARY REPORT- The preliminary report shall include--

(1) an assessment of the over-the-road bus security grant program;

(2) an assessment of actions already taken to address identified security issues by both public and private entities and recommendations on whether additional safety and security enforcement actions are needed;

(3) an assessment of whether additional legislation is needed to provide for the security of Americans traveling on over-the-road buses;

(4) an assessment of the economic impact that security upgrades of buses and bus facilities may have on the over-the-road bus transportation industry and its employees;

(5) an assessment of ongoing research and the need for additional research on over-the-road bus security, including engine shut-off mechanisms, chemical and biological weapon detection technology, and the feasibility of compartmentalization of the driver; and

(6) an assessment of industry best practices to enhance security.

(c) CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY, LABOR, AND OTHER GROUPS- In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with over-the-road bus management and labor representatives, public safety and law enforcement officials, and the National Academy of Sciences.

SEC. 6. FUNDING.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out this Act $99,000,000 for fiscal years 2003 and 2004. Such sums shall remain available until expended.

END