Resolution # XX-14

The University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA)

The Pennsylvania State University
of the 2019 – 2020 Session
October 23, 2019

Be it decided by the Assembly, having been considered by the committee on Governmental Affairs

Resolution

Support of H.R. 3262 and S. 1871 (Sami’s Law)

(Decided: [ Y / N / A ])

Nature of the Situation:

On the morning of March 29​th​, 2019, Samantha “Sami” Josephson, a University of South
Carolina student, was murdered by an individual who claimed to be her Uber driver.

Following her tragic death, a bill with the name of “Sami’s Law” was introduced and passed
unanimously in both chambers of the New Jersey State Legislature, Ms. Josephson’s home state.
The bill was signed into law by the Governor of New Jersey, Philip D. Murphy, on June 20,
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2019. Concurrently on June 13, 2019, bipartisan legislation with the same name and purpose as
the New Jersey law was introduced on the federal level in the United States House of
Representatives by Congressman Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ-04) and in the United States
2 3
Senate by Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD).

If the proposed “Sami’s Law” is signed into a law on the federal level, rideshare providers would
be mandated to “​display two ‘identifying markers’ on the front windshield and rear window,
display two placards with the driver’s name, photograph, and license plate number on the

https://abcnews.go.com/US/jersey-governor-signs-samis-law-rideshare-safety-honor/story?id=63
859131
2
​https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3262?r=1&s=1
3
​https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1871
driver’s side and passenger’s side rear windows, [and]​ ​display two copies of a barcode, which a
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passenger can scan to confirm the vehicle is the one they ordered.”

Recommended Course of Action:

The UPUA, on behalf of the University Park undergraduate student body, hereby supports the
full passage of the United States House of Representatives Bill H.R. 3262 and the United States
Senate Bill S.1872. The UPUA believes that these bills will have a positive impact on safety in
the Penn State community as ride sharing services are a popular way for means of transportation
around the State College area.

Furthermore, the UPUA will relay this resolution to the Association of Big Ten Students (ABTS)
and the Pennsylvania Association of State Related Students (PASS) for the purpose to begin joint
advocacy efforts. The UPUA believes that these bills will positively affect all students at any
institution due to the fact that ride share is a popular commodity that is used by students all
across the country.

The UPUA will advocate for passage of these bills by contacting Congressman Fred B. Keller
(R-PA-12), Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15), Senator Patrick J. Toomey (R-PA),
and Senator Robert P. Casey (D-PA), whose constituencies are made up in part by University
Park students, to support both versions of the bill in their respective chambers.

Additionally, The UPUA will participate in the “#WhatsMyName” social media campaign via
the UPUA social media accounts in order to inform students of proper and effective rideshare
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safety tips.

The Department of Communications is hereby charged with disseminating this information

through all relevant channels.

4
​https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s1871/summary
5
​https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/16/business/uber-safety.html
Respectfully submitted,

Tyler Ladzinski Kara Doluisio

At-Large Representative First-Year Representative

Najee Rodriguez
First-Year Representative

Speaker __________________________________________________ Committee Vote: [9/0/0]

President _________________________________________________ Affirm Veto

The University Park Undergraduate Association