H.R. 5706 would require transportation carriers to create policies for reporting and combating sexual assault and sexual harassment that occurs on vehicles they operate, including procedures for reporting incidents, procedures for employees after such reports are filed, training for personnel who may receive such reports, and procedures for prohibiting future travel by passengers who cause such an incident. Covered carriers would include air carriers, certain motor carriers, commuter and intercity rail entities, transit entities, passenger vessels, transportation network companies, and for-hire vehicle companies.
The bill would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect, maintain, and make information available to the public on the number of sexual assaults and harassment incidents that occur on vehicles operated by transportation carriers and the number of such incidents that are reported to law enforcement. The data published would exclude any personally identifiable information.
H.R. 5706 also would establish new and increase existing civil fines for physically or sexually assaulting or threatening to assault an employee working for a service that transports passengers.
