,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cbfb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #ac1 #bjai ,mr4 ,smith of ,new ,jersey 7for himself and ,mr4 ,suozzi7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 to compel ,states to require illuminated signs and other measures on ride-hailing vehicles1 to prohibit the sale of such signs1 to require ride-hailing companies to implement an electronic access system on ride-hailing vehicles1 and to be known as ,sami's ,law4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as ,sami's ,law4 #b4 ,sanctions for ,states without ride-hailing vehicle identification laws 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #a of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #aga4 ,sanctions for ,states without transportation network company vehicle identification laws 7a7 ,withholding of funds for noncompliance 7#a7 ,first fiscal year ,on the first day of the fiscal year that is two years after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall withhold #a percent of the amount required to be apportioned to a ,state under each of paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of section #ajd7;b7 if the ,state does not meet the requirements of subsection 7b7 on the first day of the fiscal year4 7#b7 ,subsequent fiscal years ,on the first day of each fiscal year beginning #c years after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall withhold #b4e percent of the amount required to be apportioned to a ,state under each of paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of section #ajd7;b7 if the ,state does not meet the requirements of subsection 7b7 on the first day of the fiscal year4 7#c7 ,effect of withholding of funds ,no funds withheld under this subsection from apportionment to any ,state shall be available at any point for apportionment to that ,state4 7b7 ,requirements ,a ,state meets the requirements of this subsection if the ,governor of the ,state certifies to the ,secretary that the ,state has enacted and is enforcing the following laws with respect to ,,tnc drivers and ,,tnc vehicles operating in that ,state3 7#a7 ,front and rear license plates ,a law requiring that every ,,tnc vehicle has a duly issued general ,state license plate on both the front and rear of the vehicle4 7#b7 ,inspection and sign requirements ,a law requiring ,,tnc drivers to present ,,tnc vehicles for inspection not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of such laws 7unless the ,state has enacted and is enforcing a law meeting the requirements of this subsection on the date of enactment of this section7 and annually thereafter4 ,such law shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a provision requiring each ,,tnc driver to affix the stickers containing the optical code or label provided to that driver 7pursuant to section #c7a77;,a7 of ,sami's ,law7 on each window of the ,,tnc driver's vehicle adjacent to where passengers may sit4 7,b7 ,a provision that requires periodic safety inspections of the ,,tnc vehicle performed at intervals of at least once each year4 7,c7 ,a provision that requires each ,,tnc vehicle to display a consistent and distinctive sign at all times when the ,,tnc driver is active on the ,,tnc digital platform or providing any prearranged transportation service4 ,such sign-- 7i7 shall include the transportation network company's proprietary trademark or logo2 7ii7 shall be readable during daylight hours at a distance of #ej feet2 7iii7 shall be illuminated so that it is patently visible in darkness2 and 7iv7 may be magnetic or removable in nature4 7,d7 ,a provision that does not permit a ,,tnc driver to provide ,,tnc services if the ,,tnc vehicle does not pass such inspection4 7#c7 ,unlawful display ,a law that prohibits an individual who is not a ,,tnc driver for a transportation network company from displaying on any vehicle the sign described in paragraph 7#b77;,c7 that is affiliated with that company on any vehicle with the intent to pass himself or herself off as a ,,tnc driver operating a ,,tnc vehicle for the transportation network company affiliated with that sign4 7c7 ,definitions ,as used in this section-- 7#a7 the term ,,tnc driver means an individual who is employed or contracted by a transportation network company to provide transportation services to the public through a ,,tnc platform2 7#b7 the term ,,tnc platform means an online-enabled application or digital network used to connect riders to ,,tnc drivers for the purpose of providing prearranged transportation services2 7#c7 the term ,,tnc vehicle means a vehicle owned1 leased1 or otherwise authorized for use by a ,,tnc driver that the ,,tnc driver uses to provide ,,tnc services1 also known as a ride-hailing vehicle2 and 7#d7 the term transportation network company-- 7,a7 means a corporation1 partnership1 sole proprietorship1 or other entity1 that uses a digital network to connect riders to drivers affiliated with the entity in order for the driver to transport the rider using a vehicle owned1 leased1 or otherwise authorized for use by the driver to a point chosen by the rider2 and 7,b7 does not include a shared-expense carpool or vanpool arrangement that is not intended to generate profit for the driver4 4 #c4 ,access and other requirements for ride-hailing vehicles and ride-hailing companies ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 each transportation network company shall establish and implement the following system1 prohibition1 requirement1 and policy3 7#a7 ,a system that enables each individual who uses a ,,tnc platform to verify the identity of the ,,tnc driver who is provided to such individual via that ,,tnc platform1 and such ,,tnc driver to confirm the identity of such individual prior to the beginning of a trip4 ,such system shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a machine-readable code or image1 such as a ,,qr code 7or successor technology71 that can be scanned by the individual hailing such driver1 using a personal mobile device with a built-in camera4 ,the transportation network company shall provide to each ,,tnc driver forward-facing window stickers containing such code or label4 7,b7 ,the ability1 via the transportation network company's ,,tnc platform1 to-- 7i7 provide to each individual who is assigned a ,,tnc driver via such platform the unique machine-readable code or label of that ,,tnc driver2 7ii7 provide a means by which such individual may scan the machine-readable code or label displayed on the window sticker of the ,,tnc vehicle1 using the ,,tnc platform on the individual's personal mobile device1 to confirm the identity of the ,,tnc driver who is assigned to the individual prior to entering the vehicle2 and 7iii7 restrict each ,,tnc driver from commencing a trip until the individual who has opted to use and scan the machine-readable code or label verifies the identity of the ,,tnc driver by scanning the code or label4 7#b7 ,a prohibition on a ,,tnc driver from providing ,,tnc services if the ,,tnc vehicle of that driver does not pass inspections required by the ,state in which the ,,tnc driver's vehicle is licenced4 7#c7 ,a requirement that all ,,tnc vehicles display a consistent and distinctive sign provided by the transportation network company at all times when the ,,tnc driver is active on the ,,tnc digital platform or providing any ,,tnc service4 ,such sign-- 7,a7 shall include the transportation network company's proprietary trademark or logo2 7,b7 shall be readable during daylight hours at a distance of #ej feet2 7,c7 shall be illuminated so that it is patently visible in darkness2 and 7,d7 may be magnetic or removable in nature4 7#d7 ,a policy to require that any sign described in paragraph 7#c7 be returned to the transportation network company when a ,,tnc driver ceases to be employed or contracted by such company4 #d4 ,prohibition on sale of ride-hailing sign ,it shall be unlawful for any person other than a transportation network company to sell or offer for sale any sign described in section #c7c74 #e4 ,unfair or deceptive act or practice ,a violation of a section #c or #d shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section #ah7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #eg;a7a77#a77;,b774 ,the ,federal ,trade ,commission shall enforce this ,act in the same manner1 by the same means1 and with the same jurisdiction1 powers1 and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq47 were incorporated into and made a part of this ,act4 ,any person who violates section #c or section #d shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq474 #f4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act-- 7#a7 the term machine-readable code or image means a machine-readable optical label that is unique to each ,,tnc driver and the vehicle of such ,,tnc driver and can be scanned using a personal mobile device with a built-in camera2 7#b7 the term personal mobile device means any mobile device that an individual uses to connect to a ,,tnc platform2 7#c7 the term ,,qr code means a machine-readable code or image also known as a quick response code and consists of a matrix or two-dimensional barcode2 7#d7 the term ,,tnc driver means an individual who is employed or contracted by a transportation network company to provide transportation services to the public through a ,,tnc platform2 7#e7 the term ,,tnc platform means an online-enabled application or digital network used to connect riders to ,,tnc drivers for the purpose of providing prearranged transportation services2 7#f7 the term ,,tnc vehicle means a vehicle owned1 leased1 or otherwise authorized for use by a ,,tnc driver that the ,,tnc driver uses to provide prearranged transportation services1 also known as a ride-hailing vehicle2 and 7#g7 the term transportation network company-- 7,a7 means a corporation1 partnership1 sole proprietorship1 or other entity1 that uses a digital network to connect riders to drivers affiliated with the entity in order for the driver to transport the rider using a vehicle owned1 leased1 or otherwise authorized for use by the driver to a point chosen by the rider2 and 7,b7 does not include a shared-expense carpool or vanpool arrangement that is not intended to generate profit for the driver4 #g4 ,,gao study on the incidence of assault and abuse of ride-hailing riders and drivers ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study on the incidence of assault and abuse perpetrated on drivers by riders using ride-hailing vehicles1 and on such riders by drivers of ride-hailing vehicles1 and shall submit a report to ,congress not later than one year after the date of enactment of this ,act4 ,the report shall also examine-- 7#a7 the nature and specifics of any background checks conducted by ride-hailing companies on potential drivers1 including any ,state laws which may require such background checks2 7#b7 incidences where individuals who are not ride-hailing drivers try to pose as ride-hailing drivers2 7#c7 incidences of ride-hailing passengers entering the wrong vehicle1 whether or not the vehicle was a ride-hailing vehicle2 and 7#d7 efforts by ride-hailing companies to implement additional safety measures and practices and of ,state and local governments requiring such measures1 and the efficacy of those efforts1 practices1 and requirements4