#aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfhf ,,an ,,act ,to require ride-hailing companies to implement an enhanced digital system to verify passengers with their authorized ride-hailing vehicles and drivers4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as ,sami's ,law4 #b4 ,minimum requirements for ride-hailing vehicles and ride-hailing companies 7a7 ,requirements for ,,tnc platforms ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 each transportation network company shall establish and implement a system and policy within the transportation network company's ,,tnc platform that shall make available to each passenger a digital method to verify that the driver with whom the passenger has been matched through the transportation network company's ,,tnc platform has been authorized by the transportation network company to accept the passenger's trip request prior to the beginning of the trip4 ,such system shall include-- 7#a7 7,a7 an initial notification sent to the passenger's personal mobile device1 or otherwise communicated to the passenger1 containing verifiable information specific to the ,,tnc driver or ,,tnc vehicle with which the passenger has been matched2 7,b7 the ability for the passenger1 driver1 and ,,tnc platform to confirm the verifiable information matching the passenger to the authorized ,,tnc driver or ,,tnc vehicle prior to the beginning of the trip2 7,c7 a ,,tnc platform restriction on a ,,tnc driver from commencing a trip via the ,,tnc platform until both the passenger and the ,,tnc driver verify the other's identity using the system2 and 7,d7 a way for a passenger to use a non-visual arrangement to verify the ,,tnc driver under the system used in accordance with this subparagraph2 or 7#b7 as an alternative to implementing the system required under paragraph 7#a71 a transportation network company may implement any successor technology-based system that enables verification that the driver with whom the passenger has been matched through the transportation network company's ,,tnc platform has been authorized by the transportation network company to accept the passenger's trip requests received through its digital network prior to the beginning of the trip4 7b7 ,opt out ,a transportation network company may offer a passenger an option not to use the system that the transportation network company has implemented under subsection 7a74 ,any trip completed by a passenger who opts not to use the system shall not be a violation of this section4 7c7 ,exemptions ,this section shall not apply to any trips in which-- 7#a7 a third party1 including any third-party business1 non-profit1 or government entity1 facilitates the trip for the individual who is transported in the ,,tnc vehicle2 or 7#b7 compliance with subsection 7a7 is impracticable due to circumstances beyond a transportation network company's control1 including instances where a passenger's personal mobile device has failed to operate or there is degraded1 reduced1 or otherwise insufficient cellular connectivity in order for the system to properly operate4 #c4 ,successor ,technology ,performance ,standards 7#a7 ,performance standards ,not later than #ahj days after the establishment of the ,,sami's ,law ,council pursuant to section #d1 such ,council shall recommend to the ,secretary of ,transportation performance standards for the successor technology-based systems permitted under section #b7;a77#b7 and the ,secretary shall thereafter issue performance standards consistent with the ,council's recommendations and provide a reasonable time for a ,,tnc to comply4 ,such standards shall require1 at a minimum1 that-- 7,a7 any successor technology-based system that enables the verification that the driver with whom the passenger has been matched through the ,,tnc platform has been authorized by the transportation network company to accept the passenger's trip request received through its ,,tnc platform prior to the beginning of the trip2 7,b7 confirmation protocols are visually and non-visually accessible2 and 7,c7 a transportation network company implement a system incorporating a driver education and public awareness program related to the use of its successor technology and its required verifiable information4 7#b7 ,updating performance standards ,six months after the establishment of the performance standards required by this section1 and1 at a minimum1 annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall solicit input from the ,,sami's ,law ,council1 established under section #d1 about whether the performance standards need to be updated or expanded to incorporate new technological developments4 ,the ,secretary may amend the performance standards to account for new technological developments4 7#c7 ,interim standards ,prior to the adoption of performance standards1 a transportation network company may adopt and deploy any other successor technology-based system that enables a passenger to verify that the driver with whom the passenger has been matched through the transportation network company's platform has been authorized by the transportation network company to accept the passenger's trip requests received through its platform prior to the beginning of the trip4 ,a successor technology-based system deployed under this subparagraph shall be considered to fulfill the requirements of section #b7;a74 ,a successor technology-based system adopted under this section shall be presumed to meet such requirements unless the ,secretary determines otherwise4 ,if the ,secretary makes such a determination1 a reasonable time to cure shall be provided4 7#d7 ,reports ,upon first issuing performance standards under paragraph 7#a71 and each year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall transmit a report to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce of the ,senate detailing the performance standards recommended by the ,,sami's ,law ,council1 established under section #d1 and issued by the ,secretary under paragraph 7#a71 including any updates to such standards and explaining the rationale for issuing such performance standards4 #d4 ,safety actions for matching and identifying ride share customers advisory council 7a7 ,establishment ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish the ,safety ,actions for ,matching and ,identifying ,ride ,share ,customers' ,council 7hereinafter referred to as the ,,sami's ,law ,council71 an advisory council for the purpose of developing recommended performance standards for successor technology that will protect ,,tnc passengers and ,,tnc drivers1 as permitted under sections #b7;a77#b7 and authorized under section #c4 7b7 ,composition of the advisory council ,the advisory council shall be composed of the following members3 7#a7 ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall designate a representative from paragraph 7#b71 who shall serve as ,council ,chair4 7#b7 ,one representative1 to be appointed by the ,secretary of ,transportation1 from each of the following3 7,a7 ,the ,national ,highway ,traffic ,safety ,administration4 7,b7 ,the ,federal ,highway ,administration4 7,c7 ,the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology4 7,d7 ,the ,federal ,trade ,commission4 7,e7 ,the ,federal ,aviation ,administration4 7,f7 ,an association or trade group that represents technology companies1 whose membership includes at least one transportation network company4 7,g7 ,an organization of and for ,,tnc drivers and present in at least two ,states4 7#c7 ,two representatives1 to be appointed by the ,secretary of ,transportation1 from each of the following3 7,a7 ,transportation network companies4 7,b7 ,law enforcement agencies4 7,c7 ,national organizations of and for people with disabilities4 7,d7 ,ride-haling victims advocacy groups4 7c7 ,terms ,members of the ,council shall serve for a term of #c consecutive years4 7d7 ,vacancies ,any vacancy occurring in the membership of the ,council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the position being vacated4 ,the vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties of the ,council4 7e7 ,duties ,the ,council shall gather and analyze data1 provide technical advice1 and develop and present best practices or recommendations supported by the majority of members of the ,council to the ,secretary of ,transportation regarding performance standards the ,secretary may adopt regarding any successor technology-based system described in section #b7;a77#b74 7f7 ,technical assistance ,on request of the ,council1 the ,secretary shall provide such technical assistance to the ,council as the ,secretary determines to be necessary to carry out the ,council's duties4 7g7 ,detail of federal employees ,on the request of the ,council1 the ,secretary may detail1 with or without reimbursement1 any employee of the ,department of ,transportation to the ,council to assist the ,council in carrying out its duties4 ,the detail of any such employee shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or privileges of the employee4 7h7 ,payment and expenses ,members of the ,council shall serve without pay1 except travel and per diem will be paid to each member for meetings called by the ,secretary4 7i7 ,review ,twelve years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall review1 and solicit public input1 as to whether it is necessary for the ,council to remain in existence4 ,the ,secretary shall thereafter have the authority to terminate the ,council if the ,secretary determines that the ,council is no longer necessary4 ,if the ,secretary terminates the ,council1 the ,secretary shall maintain the authority to update performance standards related to successor technology4 #e4 ,prohibition on sale of ride-hailing signage ,it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any signage that is designed to help a passenger identify a transportation network company vehicle and-- 7#a7 contains a transportation network company's proprietary trademark or logo1 or 7#b7 purports to be that of a transportation network company1 unless such person is the transportation network company associated with such proprietary trademark or logo or authorized by the transportation network company to sell or offer for sale such signage4 #f4 ,enforcement 7a7 ,violations of section #b ,the ,secretary is authorized to issue a penalty to a transportation network company of up to #e1jjj per each day of non-compliance with section #b and a penalty of up to #bj1jjj per each day of non-compliance with section #b when such non-compliance is knowing and willful4 ,with regards to a violation relating to any successor technology-based system used by a transportation network company permitted under section #b7a77e71 the ,secretary shall rely on whether such system meets the performance standards issued under section #c4 7b7 ,violations of section #e 7#a7 ,in general ,a violation of section #e 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 #e 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 7#b7 ,savings clause ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to limit the authority of the ,federal ,trade ,commission under any other provision of law4 #g4 ,g4,a4,o4 study on the incidence of assault and abuse of passengers and drivers of ,,tnc vehicles1 taxicabs1 and other for-hire vehicles ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study on the incidence of assault and abuse perpetrated on drivers by passengers of ,,tnc vehicles1 taxicabs1 and other for-hire vehicles1 and on such passengers by drivers of ,,tnc vehicles1 taxicabs1 and other for-hire vehicles4 ,the ,comptroller ,general 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 on prospective drivers of ,,tnc vehicles1 taxicabs1 and other for-hire vehicles1 including any ,state and local laws which may require such background checks2 7#b7 incidences where individuals who are not ,,tnc drivers1 taxicab drivers1 or other for-hire vehicle drivers try to pose as ,,tnc drivers1 taxicab drivers1 or other for-hire vehicle drivers2 7#c7 incidences of passengers entering the wrong vehicle1 whether or not the vehicle was a ,,tnc vehicle1 taxicab1 and other for-hire vehicle2 and 7#d7 efforts by transportation network companies1 taxicab companies1 or for-hire vehicle 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 #h4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act-- 7#a7 the terms non-visual and non-visually accessible1 with regards to the system required under sections #b7;a77#a77;,d7 and #c7a77;,b7 mean digital content that-- 7,a7 meets the success criteria of the ,web ,content ,accessibility ,guidelines 7,,wcag7 #b4j1 ,level ,,aa1 and any successor to or revision of such guidelines that has been incorporated into the ,section #ejh standards issued by the ,united ,states ,access ,board1 including1 to the extent applicable1 the ,web ,accessibility ,initiative - ,accessible ,rich ,internet ,applications 7,,wai-,,aria72 or 7,b7 allows a blind or visually impaired passenger to access the same information1 and utilize the same system offered to other passengers as required under ,sections #b7;a77#a77;,d7 and #c7a77;,b7 in a way that provides a comparable level of privacy1 independence and substantially equivalent ease of use to the passenger2 7#b7 the term passenger means an individual who is matched with a ,,tnc driver by using a ,,tnc platform2 7#c7 the term personal mobile device means any mobile device that an individual uses to connect to a ,,tnc platform2 7#d7 ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation2 7#e7 the term ,,tnc driver means an individual who contracts with a transportation network company and provides transportation services to passengers2 7#f7 the term ,,tnc platform means an online-enabled application or digital network made available by a transportation network company to connect riders to ,,tnc drivers for the purpose of providing pre-arranged transportation services2 7#g7 the term ,,tnc vehicle means a vehicle owned1 leased1 or otherwise authorized for use by ,,tnc driver that the ,,tnc driver uses to provide pre-arranged transportation services1 also known as a ride-hailing vehicle2 and 7#h7 the term transportation network company-- 7,a7 means a corporation1 partnership1 sole proprietorship1 or other entity1 that makes available an online-enabled application or digital network to connect passengers to ,,tnc drivers in order for the driver to transport the passenger using a vehicle owned1 leased1 or otherwise authorized for use by the driver to a point chosen by the passenger2 and 7,b7 does not include a shared-expense carpool or vanpool arrangement that is not intended to generate profit for the driver2 and 7#i7 the term verifiable information means data shared between a ,,tnc platform1 ,,tnc driver1 and passenger that includes a personal authentication number confirmation system1 a license plate confirmation system1 or a successor technology system4 #i4 ,determination of budgetary effects ,the budgetary effects of this ,act1 for the purpose of complying with the ,statutory ,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act of #bjaj1 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ,budgetary ,effects of ,,paygo ,legislation for this ,act1 submitted for printing in the ,congressional ,record by the ,chairman of the ,house ,budget ,committee1 provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,july #bi1 #bjbj4;,clerk4