112 STAT. 418 PUBLIC LAW 105-178^JUNE 9, 1998 SEC. 4029. FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY INSPECTORS. The Department of Transportation shall maintain at least the number of Federal motor carrier safety inspectors for international border commercial vehicle inspections as in effect on September 30, 1997, or provide for alternative resources and mechanisms to ensure at least an equivalent level of commercial motor vehicle safety inspections. Such funds as are necessary to carry out this section shall be made available within the limitation on general operating expenses of the Department of Transportation. Contracts. SEC. 4030. SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY. (a) STUDY.— Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct, subject to the availability of appropriations, a study of the safety issues attendant to the transportation of school children to and from school and school-related activities by various transportation modes. (b) TERMS OF AGREEMENT,—The agreement under subsection (a) shall provide that— (1) the Transportation Research Board, in conducting the study, shall consider— (A) in consultation with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and other relevant entities, available crash injury data; (B) vehicle design and driver training requirements, routing, and operational factors that affect safety; and (C) other factors that the Secretary considers to be appropriate; (2) if the data referred to in paragraph (1)(A) is unavailable or insufficient, the Transportation Research Board shall recommend a new data collection regimen and implementation guidelines; and (3) a panel shall conduct the study and shall include— (A) representatives of— (i) highway safety organizations; (ii) school transportation; (iii) mass transportation operators; (iv) employee organizations; and (v) bicycling organizations; (B) academic and policy analysts; and (C) other interested parties. (c) REPORT. —Not later than 12 months after the Secretary enters into an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that contains the results of the study. (d) AUTHORIZATION. — There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Transportation to carry out this section $200,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $200,000 for fiscal year 2001. Such sums shall remain available until expended. SEC. 4031. DESIGNATION OF NEW MEXICO COMMERCIAL ZONE. (a) GENERAL RULE. —Notwithstanding the provisions of section 13902(c)(4)(A) of title 49, United States Code, the New Mexico
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