#aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ajca ,,an ,,act ,to implement recommendations related to the safety of amphibious passenger vessels1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,duck ,boat ,safety ,enhancement ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,safety requirements for amphibious passenger vessels 7a7 ,safety improvements 7#a7 ,buoyancy requirements ,not later than #a year after the date of completion of a ,coast ,guard contracted assessment by the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine of the technical feasibility1 practicality1 and safety benefits of providing reserve buoyancy through passive means on amphibious passenger vessels1 the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating may initiate a rulemaking to prescribe in regulations that operators of amphibious passenger vessels provide reserve buoyancy for such vessels through passive means1 including watertight compartmentalization1 built-in flotation1 or such other means as the ,secretary may specify in the regulations1 in order to ensure that such vessels remain afloat and upright in the event of flooding1 including when carrying a full complement of passengers and crew4 7#b7 ,interim requirements ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating shall initiate a rulemaking to implement interim safety policies or other measures to require that operators of amphibious passenger vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the ,united ,states1 as defined in section #b4ch of title #cc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation7 comply with the following3 7,a7 ,remove the canopies of such vessels for waterborne operations1 or install in such vessels a canopy that does not restrict either horizontal or vertical escape by passengers in the event of flooding or sinking4 7,b7 ,if the canopy is removed from such vessel pursuant to subparagraph 7,a71 require that all passengers don a ,coast ,guard type-approved personal flotation device before the onset of waterborne operations of such vessel4 7,c7 ,install in such vessels at least one independently powered electric bilge pump that is capable of dewatering such vessels at the volume of the largest remaining penetration in order to supplement the vessel's existing bilge pump required under section #ahb4ebj of title #df1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation74 7,d7 ,verify the watertight integrity of such vessel in the water at the outset of each waterborne departure of such vessel4 7b7 ,regulations required ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating shall initiate a rulemaking for amphibious passenger vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the ,united ,states1 as defined in section #b4ch of title #cc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation74 ,the regulations shall include1 at a minimum1 the following3 7#a7 ,severe weather emergency preparedness ,requirements that an operator of an amphibious passenger vessel-- 7,a7 check and notate in the vessel's logbook the ,national ,weather ,service forecast before getting underway and periodically while underway2 7,b7 in the case of a watch or warning issued for wind speeds exceeding the wind speed equivalent used to certify the stability of an amphibious passenger vessel1 proceed to the nearest harbor or safe refuge2 and 7,c7 maintain and monitor a weather monitor radio receiver at the operator station that may be automatically activated by the warning alarm device of the ,national ,weather ,service4 7#b7 ,passenger safety ,requirements-- 7,a7 concerning whether personal flotation devices should be required for the duration of an amphibious passenger vessel's waterborne transit1 which shall be considered and determined by the ,secretary2 7,b7 that operators of amphibious passenger vessels inform passengers that seat belts may not be worn during waterborne operations2 7,c7 that before the commencement of waterborne operations1 a crew member visually check that each passenger has unbuckled the passenger's seatbelt2 and 7,d7 that operators or crew maintain a log recording the actions described in subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c74 7#c7 ,training ,requirement for annual training for operators and crew of amphibious passengers vessels1 including-- 7,a7 training for personal flotation and seat belt requirements1 verifying the integrity of the vessel at the onset of each waterborne departure1 identification of weather hazards1 and use of ,national ,weather ,service resources prior to operation2 and 7,b7 training for crewmembers to respond to emergency situations1 including flooding1 engine compartment fires1 man overboard situations1 and in water emergency egress procedures4 7#d7 ,recommendations from reports ,requirements to address recommendations from the following reports1 as practicable and to the extent that such recommendations are under the jurisdiction of the ,coast ,guard3 7,a7 ,the ,national ,transportation ,safety ,board's ,safety ,recommendation ,reports on the ,amphibious ,passenger ,vessel incidents in ,table ,rock1 ,missouri1 ,hot ,springs1 ,arkansas1 and ,seattle1 ,washington4 7,b7 ,the ,coast ,guard's ,marine ,investigation ,board reports on the ,stretch ,duck #g sinkings at ,table ,rock1 ,missouri1 and the ,miss ,majestic sinking near ,hot ,springs1 ,arkansas4 7#e7 ,interim requirements ,the interim requirements described in subsection 7a77#b71 as appropriate4 7c7 ,prohibition on operation of noncompliant vessels ,commencing as of the date specified by the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating pursuant to subsection 7d71 any amphibious passenger vessel whose configuration or operation does not comply with the requirements under subsection 7a77#b7 7or subsection 7a77#a71 if prescribed7 may not operate in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the ,united ,states1 as defined in section #b4ch of title #cc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation74 7d7 ,deadline for compliance ,the regulations and interim requirements described in subsections 7a7 and 7b7 shall require compliance with the requirements in the regulations not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 as the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating may specify in the regulations4 7e7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the promulgation of the regulations required under subsection 7a71 the ,commandant of the ,coast ,guard shall provide a report to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives regarding the status of the implementation of the requirements included in such regulations4 ,passed the ,senate ,december #aj1 #bjbj4,secretary