[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3702 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3702
To provide for the safety of migrant seasonal agricultural workers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 20, 2006
Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Ms. Snowe) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the safety of migrant seasonal agricultural workers.
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 ``Farm and Forestry Worker
Transportation Safety Act''.
SEC. 2. SEATS AND SEAT BELTS FOR MIGRANT AND SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS.
(a) Seats.--Except as provided in subsection (d), in promulgating
vehicle safety standards under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural
Worker Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) for the transportation
of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers by farm labor contractors,
agricultural employers or agricultural associations, the Secretary of
Labor shall ensure that each occupant or rider in, or on, any vehicle
subject to such standards is provided with a seat that is a designated
seating position (as such term is defined for purposes of the Federal
motor vehicle safety standards issued under chapter 301 of title 49,
United States Code).
(b) Seat Belts.--Each seating position required under subsection
(a) shall be equipped with an operational seat belt, except that this
subsection shall not apply with respect to seating positions in buses
that would otherwise not be required to have seat belts under the
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
(c) Performance Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall issue minimum
performance requirements for the strength of seats and the
attachment of seats and seat belts in vehicles that are
converted, after being sold for purposes other than resale, for
the purpose of transporting migrant or seasonal agricultural
workers. The requirements shall provide a level of safety that
is as close as practicable to the level of safety provided for
in a vehicle that is manufactured or altered for the purpose of
transporting such workers before being sold for purposes other
than resale.
(2) Expiration.--Effective on the date that is 7 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, any vehicle that is or
has been converted for the purpose of transporting migrant or
seasonal agricultural workers shall provide the same level of
safety as a vehicle that is manufactured or altered for such
purpose prior to being sold for purposes other than resale.
(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to alter or modify the regulations contained in section
500.103, or the provision pertaining to transportation that is
primarily on private roads in section 500.104(l), of title 29, Code of
Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
(e) Definitions.--The definitions contained in section 3 of the
Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (29 U.S.C.
1802) shall apply to this section.
(f) Compliance Date.--Not later than 1 year after such date of
enactment, and except as provided in subsection (c)(2), all vehicles
subject to this Act shall be in compliance with the requirements of
this Act.
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