1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hot Cars Act of 2019 . 2. Findings and purpose (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Children and domestic animals left unattended in vehicles, or independently accessing unoccupied vehicles on their own, are a significant public health and safety problem. (2) Thirty-eight children on average are killed by hyperthermia each year as a result of being left unattended in a vehicle or as a result of gaining access independently into an unoccupied vehicle. (3) In 2018, at least 52 children were killed by hyperthermia as a result of being left unattended in a vehicle or as a result of gaining access independently into an unoccupied vehicle. (4) Between 1990 and 2018, at least 889 children have been killed by hyperthermia as a result of being left unattended in a vehicle or as a result of gaining access independently into an unoccupied vehicle. Of those deaths, where the circumstances were known, 27 percent were the result of the child accessing the vehicle independently. (5) Fourteen percent of parents reported leaving a child 6 or younger in a parked, locked car alone. According to a 2014 Public Opinion Strategies survey, fourteen percent of parents reported leaving a child six or younger in a parked, locked car alone. The survey finds that, according to United States Census data, that’s nearly 2,000,000 United States parents transporting more than 3,300,000 United States children. (6) In 2018, at least 57 domestic animals were killed as a result of being left unattended in a vehicle. (7) Technology currently exists to detect the presence of a child in the rear seat of a vehicle. (b) Purpose The purpose of this Act is to reduce the deaths and injuries that result from occupants being left in unattended vehicles as well as instances in which children independently access an unoccupied vehicle. 3. Occupant safety (a) Amendment (1) In general Chapter 323 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 32304A the following new section: 32304B.