A bill to reauthorize and amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, and for other purposes.

Summary: Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 to revise the definitions of: (1) "hydrographic data" to include lidar, radar, remote sensing, shoreline and other ocean- and coastal-related surveying, and water level observations; and (2) "hydrographic services" to include references to shoreline and water level information.

(Sec. 3) Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to promote safe, efficient, and environmentally sound marine transportation and to acquire and disseminate hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services.

Revises the Administrator's authorities concerning the acquisition of hydrographic data and provision of hydrographic servicesincluding to permit: (1) support for the conservation and management of coastal and ocean resources; (2) saving and protecting life and property and supporting the resumption of commerce in response to emergencies, natural and man-made disasters, and homeland security and maritime domain awareness needs; and (3) the creation and maintenance of joint centers with other federal agencies.

(Sec. 4) Modifies membership provisions regarding the Hydrographic Services Review Panel.

(Sec. 5) Authorizations appropriations: (1) through FY2012 for specified hydrographic services; and (2) to acquire a replacement hydrographic survey vessel capable of staying at sea continuously for at least 30 days.

(Sec. 6) Amends the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 to increase by 58 the number authorized commissioned officers on the NOAA lineal list if: (1) the Secretary of Commerce has submitted to Congress plans for ship recapitalization, aircraft remodernization, and supporting workforce management plans; (2) appropriated funding is available; and (3) the Secretary has justified organizational needs.

SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hydrographic Services Improvement 
Act Amendments of 2008''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 892) is amended by striking paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) and 
inserting the following:
        ``(3) Hydrographic data.--The term `hydrographic data' means 
    information that--
            ``(A) is acquired through--
                ``(i) hydrographic, bathymetric, photogrammetric, 
            lidar, radar, remote sensing, or shoreline and other ocean- 
            and coastal-related surveying;
                ``(ii) geodetic, geospatial, or geomagnetic 
            measurements;
                ``(iii) tide, water level, and current observations; or
                ``(iv) other methods; and
            ``(B) is used in providing hydrographic services.
        ``(4) Hydrographic services.--The term `hydrographic services' 
    means--
            ``(A) the management, maintenance, interpretation, 
        certification, and dissemination of bathymetric, hydrographic, 
        shoreline, geodetic, geospatial, geomagnetic, and tide, water 
        level, and current information, including the production of 
        nautical charts, nautical information databases, and other 
        products derived from hydrographic data;
            ``(B) the development of nautical information systems; and
            ``(C) related activities.
        ``(5) Coast and geodetic survey act.--The term `Coast and 
    Geodetic Survey Act' means the Act entitled `An Act to define the 
    functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and for 
    other purposes', approved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et 
    seq.).''.

SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.

    Section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 892a) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``the Act of 1947,'' in subsection (a) and 
    inserting ``the Coast and Geodetic Survey Act, promote safe, 
    efficient and environmentally sound marine transportation, and 
    otherwise fulfill the purposes of this Act,'';
        (2) by striking ``data;'' in subsection (a)(1) and inserting 
    ``data and provide hydrographic services;'' and
        (3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Authorities.--To fulfill the data gathering and dissemination 
duties of the Administration under the Coast and Geodetic Survey Act, 
promote safe, efficient, and environmentally sound marine 
transportation, and otherwise fulfill the purposes of this Act, subject 
to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator--
        ``(1) may procure, lease, evaluate, test, develop, and operate 
    vessels, equipment, and technologies necessary to ensure safe 
    navigation and maintain operational expertise in hydrographic data 
    acquisition and hydrographic services;
        ``(2) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, 
    design, install, maintain, and operate real-time hydrographic 
    monitoring systems to enhance navigation safety and efficiency; and
        ``(3) where appropriate and to the extent that it does not 
    detract from the promotion of safe and efficient navigation, may 
    acquire hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services to 
    support the conservation and management of coastal and ocean 
    resources;
        ``(4) where appropriate, may acquire hydrographic data and 
    provide hydrographic services to save and protect life and property 
    and support the resumption of commerce in response to emergencies, 
    natural and man-made disasters, and homeland security and maritime 
    domain awareness needs, including obtaining mission assignments (as 
    defined in section 641 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 
    Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 741));
        ``(5) may create, support, and maintain such joint centers with 
    other Federal agencies and other entities as the Administrator 
    deems appropriate or necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
    Act; and
        ``(6) notwithstanding the existence of such joint centers, 
    shall award contracts for the acquisition of hydrographic data in 
    accordance with subchapter VI of chapter 10 of title 40, United 
    States Code.''.

SEC. 4. HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES REVIEW PANEL.

    Section 305(c)(1)(A) of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act 
of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892c(c)(1)(A)) is amended to read as follows: ``(A) 
The panel shall consist of 15 voting members who shall be appointed by 
the Administrator. The Co-directors of the Center for Coastal and Ocean 
Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center and no more than 2 employees of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration appointed by the 
Administrator shall serve as nonvoting members of the panel. The voting 
members of the panel shall be individuals who, by reason of knowledge, 
experience, or training, are especially qualified in 1 or more of the 
disciplines and fields relating to hydrographic data and hydrographic 
services, marine transportation, port administration, vessel pilotage, 
coastal and fishery management, and other disciplines as determined 
appropriate by the Administrator.''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 306 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 892d) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator the 
following:
        ``(1) To carry out nautical mapping and charting functions 
    under sections 304 and 305, except for conducting hydrographic 
    surveys--
            ``(A) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(B) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(C) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            ``(D) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
        ``(2) To contract for hydrographic surveys under section 
    304(b)(1), including the leasing or time chartering of vessels--
            ``(A) $32,130,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(B) $32,760,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(C) $33,390,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            ``(D) $34,020,000 for fiscal year 2012.
        ``(3) To operate hydrographic survey vessels owned by the 
    United States and operated by the Administration--
            ``(A) $25,900,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(B) $26,400,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(C) $26,900,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            ``(D) $27,400,000 for fiscal year 2012.
        ``(4) To carry out geodetic functions under this title--
            ``(A) $32,640,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(B) $33,280,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(C) $33,920,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            ``(D) $34,560,000 for fiscal year 2012.
        ``(5) To carry out tide and current measurement functions under 
    this title--
            ``(A) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(B) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(C) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            ``(D) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2012.
        ``(6) To acquire a replacement hydrographic survey vessel 
    capable of staying at sea continuously for at least 30 days 
    $75,000,000.''.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZED NOAA CORPS STRENGTH.

    Section 215 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3005) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 215. NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

    ``Effective October 1, 2009, the total number of authorized 
commissioned officers on the lineal list of the commissioned corps of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be increased 
from 321 to 379 if--
        ``(1) the Secretary has submitted to the Congress--
            ``(A) the Administration's ship recapitalization plan for 
        fiscal years 2010 through 2024;
            ``(B) the Administration's aircraft remodernization plan; 
        and
            ``(C) supporting workforce management plans;
        ``(2) appropriated funding is available; and
        ``(3) the Secretary has justified organizational needs for the 
    commissioned corps for each such fiscal year.''

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.