NHTSA-RELATED
MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY PROVISIONS IN SAFETEA-LU, AS ENACTED
(Aug. 10, 2005; P.L. 109-59)
 
TITLE X--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
 
 
 Subtitle B--Other Miscellaneous Provisions
 
SEC. 10208. RENTED OR LEASED MOTOR VEHICLES.
 
 (a) In General.--Subchapter I <<NOTE: 49 USC 30101.>> of chapter 301 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
 
``Sec. 30106. Rented or leased motor vehicle safety and responsibility
 
 ``(a) In General.--An owner of a motor vehicle that rents or leases 
the vehicle to a person (or an affiliate of the owner) shall not be 
liable under the law of any State or political subdivision thereof, by 
reason of being the owner of the vehicle (or an affiliate of the owner), 
for harm to persons or property that results or arises out of the use, 
operation, or possession of the vehicle during the period of the rental 
or lease, if--
 ``(1) the owner (or an affiliate of the owner) is engaged in 
 the trade or business of renting or leasing motor vehicles; and
 ``(2) there is no negligence or criminal wrongdoing on the 
 part of the owner (or an affiliate of the owner).
 
 ``(b) Financial Responsibility Laws.--Nothing in this section 
supersedes the law of any State or political subdivision thereof--
 ``(1) imposing financial responsibility or insurance 
 standards on the owner of a motor vehicle for the privilege of 
 registering and operating a motor vehicle; or
 ``(2) imposing liability on business entities engaged in the 
 trade or business of renting or leasing motor vehicles for 
 failure to meet the financial responsibility or liability 
 insurance requirements under State law.
 
 ``(c) Applicability and Effective Date.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, this section shall apply with respect to any action 
commenced on or after the date of enactment of this section without 
regard to whether the harm that is the subject of the action, or the 
conduct that caused the harm, occurred before such date of enactment.
 ``(d) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions 
apply:
 ``(1) Affiliate.--The term `affiliate' means a person other 
 than the owner that directly or indirectly controls, is 
 controlled by, or is under common control with the owner. In the 
 preceding sentence, the term `control' means the power to direct 
 the management and policies of a person whether through 
  ownership of voting securities or otherwise.
 ``(2) Owner.--The term `owner' means a person who is--
 ``(A) a record or beneficial owner, holder of title, 
 lessor, or lessee of a motor vehicle;
  ``(B) entitled to the use and possession of a motor 
 vehicle subject to a security interest in another 
 person; or
 ``(C) a lessor, lessee, or a bailee of a motor 
 vehicle, in the trade or business of renting or leasing 
 motor vehicles,
 
[[Page 119 STAT. 1936]]
 
 having the use or possession thereof, under a lease, 
 bailment, or otherwise.
 ``(3) Person.--The term `person' means any individual, 
 corporation, company, limited liability company, trust, 
 association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, or 
 any other entity.''.
 
 (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 30105 the following:
 
``30106. Rented or leased motor vehicle safety and responsibility.''.
 
 
 
 Subtitle C--Specific Vehicle Safety-related Rulings
 
Sec. 10301. Vehicle rollover prevention and crash mitigation.
 
[[Page 119 STAT. 1152]]
 
Sec. 10302. Side-impact crash protection rulemaking.
Sec. 10303. Tire research.
Sec. 10304. Vehicle backover avoidance technology study.
Sec. 10305. Nontraffic incident data collection.
Sec. 10306. Study of safety belt use technologies.
Sec. 10307. Amendment of Automobile Information Disclosure Act.
Sec. 10308. Power window switches.
Sec. 10309. 15-Passenger van safety.
Sec. 10310. Authorization of appropriations.

 Subtitle C--Specific Vehicle Safety-related Rulings
 
SEC. 10301. VEHICLE ROLLOVER PREVENTION AND CRASH MITIGATION.
 
 (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 301 is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
 
``Sec. 30128. <<NOTE: 49 USC 30128.>> Vehicle rollover prevention and 
  crash mitigation
 
 ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall initiate rulemaking 
proceedings, for the purpose of establishing rules or standards that 
will reduce vehicle rollover crashes and mitigate deaths and injuries 
associated with such crashes for motor vehicles with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds.
 ``(b) Rollover Prevention.--One of the rulemaking proceedings 
initiated under subsection (a) shall be to establish performance 
criteria to reduce the occurrence of rollovers consistent with stability 
enhancing technologies. <<NOTE: Deadlines.>> The Secretary shall issue a 
proposed rule in this proceeding by rule by October 1, 2006, and a final 
rule by April 1, 2009.
 
 ``(c) <<NOTE: Deadlines.>> Occupant Ejection Prevention.--
 ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall also initiate a 
 rulemaking proceeding to establish performance standards to 
 reduce complete and partial ejections of vehicle occupants from 
 outboard seating positions. In formulating the standards the 
 Secretary shall consider various ejection mitigation systems. 
 The Secretary shall issue a final rule under this paragraph no 
 later than October 1, 2009.
 ``(2) Door locks and door retention.--The Secretary shall 
 complete the rulemaking proceeding initiated to upgrade Federal 
 Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 206, relating to door locks 
 and door retention, no later than 30 months after the date of 
 enactment of this section.
 
 ``(d) Protection of Occupants.--One of the rulemaking proceedings 
initiated under subsection (a) shall be to establish performance 
criteria to upgrade Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 216 
relating to roof strength for driver and passenger sides. The Secretary 
may consider industry and independent dynamic tests that realistically 
duplicate the actual forces transmitted during a rollover crash. The 
Secretary shall issue a <<NOTE: Deadlines.>> proposed rule by December 
31, 2005, and a final rule by July 1, 2008.
 
 ``(e) Deadlines.--If the Secretary determines that the deadline for 
a final rule under this section cannot be met, the Secretary shall--
 
[[Page 119 STAT. 1940]]
 
 ``(1) <<NOTE: Notification.>> notify the Senate Committee on 
 Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 
 Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and explain why 
 that deadline cannot be met; and
 ``(2) establish a new deadline.''.
 
SEC. 10302. <<NOTE: 49 USC 30101 note.>> SIDE-IMPACT CRASH PROTECTION 
 RULEMAKING.
 
 (a) Rulemaking.--The Secretary shall complete a rulemaking 
proceeding under chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, to 
establish a standard designed to enhance passenger motor vehicle 
occupant protection, in all seating positions, in side impact crashes. 
The <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Secretary shall issue a final rule by July 1, 
2008.
 
 (b) Deadlines.--If the Secretary determines that the deadline for a 
final rule under this section cannot be met, the Secretary shall--
 (1) <<NOTE: Notification.>> notify the Senate Committee on 
 Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 
 Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and explain why 
 that deadline cannot be met; and
 (2) establish a new deadline.
 
SEC. 10303. <<NOTE: Deadlines. Reports.>> TIRE RESEARCH.
 
 Within 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee 
on Energy and Commerce on research conducted to address tire aging. The 
report shall include a summary of any Federal agency findings, 
activities, conclusions, and recommendations concerning tire aging and 
recommendations for potential rulemaking regarding tire aging.
 (a) Conforming Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 301 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 30127 the 
following:
 
``30128. Vehicle accident ejection protection.''.
 
SEC. 10304. <<NOTE: 49 USC 30101 note.>> VEHICLE BACKOVER AVOIDANCE 
 TECHNOLOGY STUDY.
 
 (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration shall conduct a study of effective methods for 
reducing the incidence of injury and death outside of parked passenger 
motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 
10,000 pounds attributable to movement of such 
vehicles. <<NOTE: Reports. Deadlines.>> The Administrator shall complete 
the study within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and 
report its findings to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and 
Commerce not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
 
 (b) Specific Issues To Be Covered.--The study required by subsection 
(a) shall--
 (1) include an analysis of backover prevention technology;
 (2) identify, evaluate, and compare the available 
 technologies for detecting people or objects behind a motor 
 vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 
 10,000 pounds for their accuracy, effectiveness, cost, and 
 feasibility for installation; and
 
[[Page 119 STAT. 1941]]
 
 (3) provide an estimate of cost savings that would result 
 from widespread use of backover prevention devices and 
 technologies in motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight 
 rating of not more than 10,000 pounds, including savings 
 attributable to the prevention of--
 (A) injuries and fatalities; and
 (B) damage to bumpers and other motor vehicle parts 
 and damage to other objects.
 
SEC. 10305. <<NOTE: 49 USC 30101 note.>> NONTRAFFIC INCIDENT DATA 
 COLLECTION.
 
 (a) In General.--In conjunction with the study required in section 
10304, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall 
establish a method to collect and maintain data on the number and types 
of injuries and deaths involving motor vehicles with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds in non-traffic incidents.
 (b) Data Collection and Publication.--The Secretary of 
Transportation shall publish the data collected under subsection (a) no 
less frequently than biennially.
 
SEC. 10306. STUDY OF SAFETY BELT USE TECHNOLOGIES.
 
 The Secretary shall conduct a review of safety belt use technologies 
to consider possible revisions in strategies for achieving further gains 
in safety belt use. The Secretary shall complete the study by July 1, 
2008.
 
SEC. 10307. AMENDMENT OF AUTOMOBILE INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ACT.
 
 (a) Safety Labeling Requirement.--Section 3 of the Automobile 
Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1232) is amended--
 (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in subsection 
 (e);
 (2) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon in subsection 
 (f)(3);
 (3) by striking ``(3).'' in subsection (f)(4) and inserting 
 ``(3);''; and
 (4) by adding at the end the following:
 
 ``(g) if one or more safety ratings for such automobile have been 
assigned and formally published or released by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration under the New Car Assessment Program, 
information about safety ratings that--
 ``(1) includes a graphic depiction of the number of stars, 
  or other applicable rating, that corresponds to each such 
 assigned safety rating displayed in a clearly differentiated 
 fashion indicating the maximum possible safety rating;
 ``(2) refers to frontal impact crash tests, side impact 
 crash tests, and rollover resistance tests (whether or not such 
 automobile has been assigned a safety rating for such tests);
 ``(3) contains information describing the nature and meaning 
 of the crash test data presented and a reference to additional 
 vehicle safety resources, including http://www.safecar.gov; and
 ``(4) is presented in a legible, visible, and prominent 
 fashion and covers at least--
 ``(A) 8 percent of the total area of the label; or
 ``(B) an area with a minimum length of 4\1/2\ inches 
 and a minimum height of 3\1/2\ inches; and
 
[[Page 119 STAT. 1942]]
 
 ``(h) if an automobile has not been tested by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration under the New Car Assessment Program, or 
safety ratings for such automobile have not been assigned in one or more 
rating categories, a statement to that effect.''.
 (b) <<NOTE: Deadline. 15 USC 1232 note.>> Regulations.--The 
Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations to ensure that the 
labeling requirements under subsections (g) and (h) of section 3 of the 
Automobile Information Disclosure Act, as added by subsection (a), are 
implemented by September 1, 2007.
 
 (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation, to accelerate the 
testing processes and increasing the number of vehicles tested under the 
New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration--
 (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
 (2) $8,134,065 for fiscal year 2007;
 (3) $8,418,760 for fiscal year 2008;
 (4) $8,713,410 for fiscal year 2009; and
  (5) $9,018,385 for fiscal year 2010.
 
SEC. 10308. POWER WINDOW SWITCHES.
 
 The Secretary shall upgrade Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
118 to require that power windows in motor vehicles not in excess of 
10,000 pounds have switches that raise the window only when the switch 
is pulled up or out. <<NOTE: Deadline.>> The Secretary shall issue a 
final rule implementing this section by April 1, 2007.
 
SEC. 10309. <<NOTE: 49 USC 30117.>> 15-PASSENGER VAN SAFETY.
 
 (a) Testing.--
  (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
 require the testing of 15-passenger vans as part of the rollover 
 resistance program of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
 Administration's new car assessment program.
  (2) 15-passenger van defined.--In this subsection, the term 
 ``15-passenger van'' means a vehicle that seats 10 to 14 
 passengers, not including the driver.
 
 (b) <<NOTE: 49 USC 30112.>> Prohibition of Purchase, Rental, or 
Lease of Noncomplying 15-Passenger Vans for School Use.--Section 
30112(a) is amended--
 (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Except as provided''; and
 (2) by adding at the end the following:
 
 ``(2) Except as provided in this section, sections 30113 and 30114 
of this title, and subchapter III of this chapter, a school or school 
system may not purchase or lease a new 15-passenger van if it will be 
used significantly by, or on behalf of, the school or school system to 
transport preprimary, primary, or secondary school students to or from 
school or an event related to school, unless the 15-passenger van 
complies with the motor vehicle standards prescribed for school buses 
and multifunction school activity buses under this title. This paragraph 
does not apply to the purchase or lease of a 15-passenger van under a 
contract executed before the date of enactment of this paragraph.''.
 (c) <<NOTE: 49 USC 30165.>> Penalty.--Section 30165(a) is amended--
 (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
 ``(2) School buses.--
 
[[Page 119 STAT. 1943]]
 
 ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
 the maximum amount of a civil penalty under this 
 paragraph shall be $10,000 in the case of--
 ``(i) the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, 
 introduction or delivery for introduction into 
 interstate commerce, or importation of a school bus or 
 school bus equipment (as those terms are defined in 
 section 30125(a) of this title) in violation of section 
 30112(a)(1) of this title; or
 ``(ii) a violation of section 30112(a)(2) of this 
 title.
 ``(B) Related series of violations.--A separate 
 violation occurs for each motor vehicle or item of motor 
 vehicle equipment and for each failure or refusal to 
 allow or perform an act required by that section. The 
 maximum penalty under this paragraph for a related 
 series of violations is $15,000,000.''.
 
SEC. 10310. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
 
 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this subtitle, chapter 301 of title 49, and part C of subtitle VI of 
title 49, United States Code--
 (1) $136,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
 (2) $142,800,000 for fiscal year 2007;
 (3) $149,900,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
 (4) $157,400,000 for fiscal year 2009.