[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5413 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5413
To amend title 46, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the
department in which the Coast Guard is operating to prescribe
additional regulations to secure the safety of individuals and property
on board certain small passenger vessels, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 12, 2019
Mr. Carbajal (for himself and Ms. Brownley of California) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 46, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the
department in which the Coast Guard is operating to prescribe
additional regulations to secure the safety of individuals and property
on board certain small passenger vessels, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. REGULATIONS FOR COVERED SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS.
Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``, including covered small passenger vessels
(as defined in subsection (n)(5))'' after ``vessels
subject to inspection''; and
(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting before the
period at the end ``, including rechargeable devices
utilized for personal or commercial electronic
equipment''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(n) Additional Regulations for Covered Small Passenger Vessels.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall prescribe additional
regulations to secure the safety of individuals and property on
board covered small passenger vessels.
``(2) Comprehensive review.--The regulations prescribed
under paragraph (1) shall include the provision of a
comprehensive review of all requirements for covered small
passenger vessels, including calculations, with respect to fire
detection, protection, and suppression systems on board such
vessels.
``(3) Requirements.--The regulations prescribed under
paragraph (1) shall include each of the following requirements
for covered small passenger vessels:
``(A) Requirements for the addition of
interconnected fire detection, protection, and
suppression equipment, including fire extinguishers, in
all areas on board such vessels to which passengers
have access, including dining areas, sleeping quarters,
and lounges.
``(B) Requirements to increase fire detection,
protection, and suppression systems on board such
vessels in unmanned areas with machinery or areas with
other potential heat sources.
``(C) Requirements for fire detection, suppression,
and control in all areas on board such vessels to which
passengers have access, including dining areas,
sleeping quarters, and lounges.
``(D) Requirements for all such vessels to have not
less than 2 avenues of escape from all general areas
accessible to passengers. Such avenues of escape shall
be located so that if one avenue is not available
another avenue may be available.
``(E) Requirements, including increased standards,
for marine firefighting training programs with respect
to such vessels to improve crewmember training and
proficiency. Such programs shall--
``(i) include training regarding shipboard
marine firefighting operations; and
``(ii) be reviewed and maintained by a
third party contractor approved by the
Commandant.
``(F) Requirements for handling, storage, and
operation of flammable items, such as lithium ion
batteries, on board such vessels.
``(4) Interim policies.--To the maximum extent practicable,
the Secretary shall implement interim policies to, prior to the
issuance by the Secretary of final regulations prescribed under
paragraph (1), apply the requirements under paragraph (3) to
covered small passenger vessels.
``(5) Definition of covered small passenger vessel.--In
this subsection, the term `covered small passenger vessel'--
``(A) means a small passenger vessel that--
``(i) is less than 100 gross tons as
measured under section 14502 of this title, or
an alternate tonnage measured under section
14302 of this title as prescribed by the
Secretary under section 14104 of this title;
and
``(ii) is carrying--
``(I) for overnight domestic
voyages, not more than 49 passengers;
and
``(II) for all other voyages, not
more than 150 passengers; and
``(B) includes any wooden vessel constructed prior
to March 11, 1996, that carries passengers on overnight
domestic voyages.''.
SEC. 3. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO INCLUDE ALL SMALL PASSENGER
VESSELS.
Title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 3202(b)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(B) by striking ``This chapter'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--This chapter;''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Safety management system.--Notwithstanding any other
provision in this chapter, including paragraph (1)(B), the
regulations issued under section 3203, including the safety
management system established by such regulations, shall apply
to all small passenger vessels.''; and
(2) in section 3203(a), by inserting ``(including, for
purposes of this section, all small passenger vessels)'' after
``vessels to which this chapter applies''.
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