text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Air Travelers Fair Treatment Act of 
  2001''.
  
  SEC. 2. FAIR TREATMENT OF AIRLINE PASSENGERS.
  
      Section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
  at the end the following:
      ``(c) Specific Practices.--For purposes of subsection (a), the term 
  `unfair or deceptive practice' includes each of the following:
              ``(1) Flight delays.--The failure of an air carrier or 
          foreign air carrier to provide a passenger of the carrier with 
          an accurate explanation of the reasons for a flight delay, 
          cancellation, or diversion from a ticketed itinerary.
              ``(2) Termination of ticket agents.--In the case of a 
          termination, cancellation, nonrenewal, or substantial change in 
          the competitive circumstances of the appointment of a ticket 
          agent by an air carrier or foreign air carrier, the failure of 
          the air carrier or foreign air carrier--
                      ``(A) to provide the ticket agent with written 
                  notice, and a full statement of reasons for the action, 
                  on or before the 90th day preceding the action; and
                      ``(B) to provide the ticket agent with at least 60 
                  days to correct any deficiency claimed in the written 
                  notice,
          except in cases of insolvency, an assignment for the benefit of 
          creditors, bankruptcy, or nonpayment of sums due under the 
          appointment.''.
  
  SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION REGARDING ENFORCEMENT OF STATE LAWS.
  
      Section 41713(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
  striking ``related to a price, route, or service of an air carrier that 
  may provide air transportation under this subpart'' and inserting 
  ``that directly prescribes a price, route, or level of service for air 
  transportation provided by an air carrier under this subpart''.
  
  SEC. 4. EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE; RIGHT OF EGRESS.
  
      (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 417 of title 49, United 
  States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
  ``Sec. 41722. Airline passenger rights
      ``(a) Right to In-Flight Emergency Medical Care.--
              ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
          prescribe regulations to establish minimum standards for 
          resuscitation, emergency medical, and first-aid equipment and 
          supplies to be carried on board an aircraft operated by an air 
          carrier in air transportation that is capable of carrying at 
          least 30 passengers.
              ``(2) Considerations.--In prescribing regulations under 
          paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider--
                      ``(A) the weight and size of the equipment 
                  described in paragraph (1);
                      ``(B) the need for special training of air carrier 
                  personnel to operate the equipment safely and 
                  effectively;
                      ``(C) the space limitations of each type of 
                  aircraft;
                      ``(D) the effect of the regulations on aircraft 
                  operations;
                      ``(E) the practical experience of airlines in 
                  carrying and operating similar equipment; and
                      ``(F) other relevant factors.
              ``(3) Consultation.--Before prescribing regulations under 
          paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Surgeon 
          General of the Public Health Service.
      ``(b) Right To Exit Aircraft.--No air carrier or foreign air 
  carrier operating an aircraft in air transportation shall prevent or 
  hinder (including by failing to assist) any passenger from exiting the 
  aircraft (under the same circumstances as any member of the flight crew 
  is permitted to exit the aircraft) if--
              ``(1) the aircraft is parked at an airport terminal gate 
          with access to ramp or other facilities through which 
          passengers are customarily boarded and deplaned;
              ``(2) the aircraft has remained at the gate more than 1 
          hour past its scheduled departure time; and
              ``(3) the captain of the aircraft has not been informed by 
          air traffic control authorities that the aircraft can be 
          cleared for departure within 15 minutes.''.
      (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 417 of title 
  49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
  
  ``41722. Airline passenger rights.''.
  
  SEC. 5. CONSUMER ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
  
      (a) Requirement for Program.--
              (1) In general.--Chapter 447 of title 49, United States 
          Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
          section:
  ``Sec. 44727. Air traveler safety program
      ``(a) In General.--
              ``(1) Written information.--The Secretary of Transportation 
          (in this section referred to as the `Secretary') shall require 
          in regulations, for a period determined by the Secretary, that 
          each air carrier that provides interstate air transportation or 
          foreign air transportation to provide written information upon 
          request, to passengers that purchase passage for interstate or 
          foreign air transportation concerning the following:
                      ``(A) Safety inspection reviews conducted by the 
                  Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
                  (in this section referred to as the `Administrator') on 
                  the aircraft of that air carrier.
                      ``(B) The safety ranking of that air carrier, as 
                  determined by the Administrator in accordance with 
                  applicable law.
                      ``(C) The compliance of the members of the crew of 
                  the aircraft with any applicable certification 
                  requirements under this subtitle.
              ``(2) Guidelines.--The regulations issued by the Secretary 
          under this subsection shall provide guidelines for air carriers 
          relating to the provision of the information referred to in 
          paragraph (1).
              ``(3) Request for information.--An air carrier shall be 
          required to provide to a passenger, on request, any information 
          concerning the safety of aircraft and the competency of persons 
          issued a certificate under this subtitle for the operation of 
          the aircraft that the Secretary, to the extent allowable by 
          law, determines to be appropriate.
      ``(b) Submission of Performance Review.--
              ``(1) In general.--Not later than December 31 of each year, 
          the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress regarding the 
          safety of air carriers that provide interstate or foreign air 
          transportation. The report shall include with respect to the 
          year in which the report is filed--
                      ``(A) the number of accidents and a description of 
                  such accidents of air carriers attributable to each air 
                  carrier that provides interstate or foreign air 
                  transportation; and
                      ``(B) the names of makers of aircraft that have 
                  been involved in an accident.
              ``(2) Availability of information.--The Secretary shall 
          make the annual report under paragraph (1) available to any 
          person or entity upon request.
      ``(c) Victims' Rights Program.--
              ``(1) In general.--The National Transportation Safety Board 
          shall establish and administer a program for victims and 
          survivors of aircraft accidents in air commerce. Under that 
          program, the National Transportation Safety Board shall ensure 
          that such victims and survivors of an accident receive, to the 
          extent allowable by law, immediate and unrestricted access to 
          information on the accident that is made available from--
                      ``(A) the air carrier involved in an accident in 
                  air commerce;
                      ``(B) the Federal Government; and
                      ``(C) State governments and political subdivisions 
                  thereof.
              ``(2) Classified information.--Nothing in paragraph (1) may 
          be construed to authorize a release of information that is 
          specifically authorized under criteria established by an 
          Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national 
          defense or foreign policy.
      ``(d) Coordination of Victim Assistance.--
              ``(1) In general.--The National Transportation Safety 
          Board, in cooperation with officials of appropriate Federal 
          agencies and the American Red Cross, shall establish a program 
          to ensure the coordination of the disclosure of information 
          under subsection (c) and assistance provided to victims of an 
          accident in air commerce.
              ``(2) Establishment of toll-free telephone line.--
                      ``(A) In general.--The National Transportation 
                  Safety Board, in cooperation with officials of the 
                  appropriate Federal agencies and the American Red 
                  Cross, shall establish a toll-free telephone line to 
                  facilitate the provision of information under paragraph 
                  (3).
                      ``(B) Action by the national transportation safety 
                  board.--The National Transportation Safety Board shall 
                  take such action as may be necessary to ensure--
                              ``(i) the publication of the telephone 
                          number of the telephone line established under 
                          subparagraph (A) in newspapers of general 
                          circulation; and
                              ``(ii) the provision of such number on 
                          national television news programs.
              ``(3) Information provided by telephone line.--The 
          telephone line established under paragraph (2) shall provide 
          the following information concerning an accident in air 
          commerce:
                      ``(A) The identifier name and number of the 
                  aircraft involved in the accident.
                      ``(B) The names of known victims of the accident.
                      ``(C) The status of the investigation of the 
                  accident.
                      ``(D) A list of appropriate Federal agencies and 
                  contacts.
                      ``(E) The facilities at which victims of the 
                  accident may be identified.
      ``(e) Civil Penalties.--
              ``(1) In general.--Any air carrier that fails to provide 
          information in accordance with this section shall be liable for 
          a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $100,000 per 
          violation.
              ``(2) Travel agencies and other persons not covered.--
          Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a travel agency or other 
          person that does not provide interstate or foreign air 
          transportation.
      ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
  appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
  section.''.
              (2) Conforming amendment.--The analysis for chapter 447 of 
          title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
          the following new item:
  
  ``44727. Air traveler safety program.''.
      (b) Time for Regulations.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
  issue the regulations required by subsection (a) of section 44727 of 
  title 49, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), not later 
  than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
      (c) Submittal of First Annual Report.--The Secretary of 
  Transportation shall submit the first annual report to Congress under 
  subsection (b) of such section 44727 not later than December 31, 2001.
target: Air Travelers Fair Treatment Act of 2001 - Amends Federal transportation law to make it an unfair or deceptive practice for an air carrier or foreign air carrier to fail to provide a passenger with an accurate explanation of the reasons for a flight delay, cancellation, or diversion from a ticketed itinerary.Makes it an unfair or deceptive practice for an air carrier or foreign air carrier, in the case of a termination, cancellation, nonrenewal, or substantial change in the competitive circumstances of the appointment of a ticket agent by an air carrier or foreign air carrier, to fail: (1) to provide the ticket agent with written notice, and a full statement of reasons for the action, on or before the 90th day preceding the action; and (2) to provide the ticket agent with at least 60 days to correct any deficiency claimed. Exempts from this rule cases of insolvency, an assignment for the benefit of creditors, bankruptcy, or nonpayment of sums due under the appointment.Directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations to establish minimum standards for resuscitation, emergency medical, and first-aid equipment and supplies to be carried on board an aircraft capable of carrying at least 30 passengers.Prohibits air carriers or foreign air carriers from preventing, hindering, or failing to assist any passenger from exiting an aircraft (under the same circumstances as any flight crew member may exit) if: (1) the aircraft is parked over an hour past its scheduled departure time at an airport terminal gate with access to ramp or other boarding and deplaning facilities; and (2) the aircraft captain has not been informed by air traffic control authorities that the aircraft can be cleared for departure within 15 minutes.Directs the Secretary to require by regulations each air carrier or foreign air carrier to provide, upon request, to their passengers any information concerning the safety of the aircraft and the competency of the aircraft crew.Directs the National Transportation Safety Board to establish and administer a program for victims and survivors of aircraft accidents in which they receive immediate and unrestricted access to information with regard to such accidents. Establishes a toll-free telephone line for the public to provide specified information concerning an aircraft accident.Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act.
feat_title: A bill to establish a national policy of basic consumer fair treatment for airline passengers, and for other purposes.