H.R. 1831: To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out a pilot program for the prevention and mitigation of acts of terrorism using motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

This bill aims to create a pilot program under the direction of the Secretary of Homeland Security to address the prevention and mitigation of terrorism involving motor vehicles. Here are the key components of the bill:

Establishment of the Pilot Program

Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security will set up a pilot program with a duration of up to one year. The program will entail the following:

1. Collaborating with the automotive sale and rental industry to develop a standardized method for collecting information by rental agencies and submitting suspicious activity reports.
2. Providing operators with a threat assessment from the Homeland Security's Intelligence and Analysis division, detailing the terrorism threat posed by large vehicles.
3. Offering guidance to improve the processes for reporting suspicious activities, including training for employees to help them recognize such activities better.
4. Providing technical assistance to help operators access and utilize suspicious activity reports more effectively.
5. Establishing, if deemed necessary, a method for checking information against a watch list that excludes classified information, and requiring dealers/rental companies to notify the FBI about sales or rentals.

Reporting Requirements

Following the establishment of the pilot program, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration's Administrator must provide reports to Congress:

1. Every 120 days, they will report on:
• The impact of the pilot program on privacy and civil liberties.
• The potential effects of making the pilot program permanent on U.S. counter-terrorism efforts.
2. Additionally, within 18 months after the bill's enactment, they must submit a study on collaborating with rental car and ride-sharing companies to identify potential terrorism risks.

Liability Protections

The bill includes protections for dealers and rental companies, preventing them from being liable for actions taken in accordance with the pilot program.

Definitions

The bill specifies definitions for key terms:

1. A "covered rental vehicle" refers to trucks, buses, semitrailers, or vans that can transport more than 15 passengers.
2. Terms like "dealer" and "rental company" follow definitions outlined in existing federal law.

Relevant Companies

None found