Top Summary
This bill requires the Commandant to conduct a study on the applicability of current safety regulations to commercial amphibious vessels, including an analysis of existing regulations, evaluation of safety gaps and risks, assessment of whether certain regulations from the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act should apply, and recommendations for new regulations. The findings and recommendations must be reported to specific congressional committees within one year of enactment, with a defined scope for "amphibious vessel" excluding DUKW amphibious passenger vessels.
Original Bill Text:
SEC. 315.Study of amphibious vessels.
(a) In general.—The Commandant shall conduct a study to determine the applicability of current safety regulations that apply to commercial amphibious vessels.
(b) Elements.—The study required under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) An overview and analysis that identifies safety regulations that apply to commercial amphibious vessels;
(2) An evaluation of whether safety gaps and risks exist associated with the application of regulations identified in subsection (b)(1) to the operation of commercial amphibious vessels;
(3) An evaluation of whether aspects of the regulations established in section 11502 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (46 U.S.C. 3306 note) should apply to amphibious commercial vessels; and
(4) Recommendations on potential regulations that should apply to commercial amphibious vessels.
(c) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the study required under subsection (a).
(d) Definition of amphibious vessel.—In this section, the term “amphibious vessel” means a vessel which is operating as a small passenger vessel in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in section 2.38 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) and is operating as a motor vehicle as defined in section 216 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7550) and that is not a DUKW amphibious passenger vessel as defined in section 11502 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (46 U.S.C. 3306 note).