II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1464 

To require all recreational vessels to have and to post passenger capacity 

limits and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 22, 2015 

Mr. SCHUMER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To require all recreational vessels to have and to post 

passenger capacity limits and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Boating Capacity 

5 Standards Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) PASSENGER.—The term ‘‘passenger’’ in9 cludes any individual aboard a vessel. 

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1 (2) RECREATIONAL VESSEL.—The term ‘‘rec2 reational vessel’’— 

3 (A) means any vessel that is— 

4 (i) manufactured or used primarily for 

5 pleasure; or 

6 (ii) leased, rented, or chartered to a 

7 person for the pleasure of that person; and 

8 (B) does not include a vessel that— 

9 (i) is subject to Coast Guard inspec10 tion; and 

11 (ii)(I) is engaged in commercial use; 

12 or 

13 (II) carries paying passengers. 

14 SEC. 3. CAPACITY LIMITS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

16 date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of 

17 the Coast Guard shall— 

18 (1) establish standards for determining the 

19 maximum passenger capacity for recreational ves20 sels, which shall be expressed in whole number of 

21 passengers and in pounds; 

22 (2) require each manufacturer of a passenger 

23 vessel to post such maximum passenger capacity on 

24 the passenger vessel in accordance with subsection 

25 (b); and 

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1 (3) require each operator of a passenger vessel 

2 to ensure that— 

3 (A) such maximum passenger capacity is 

4 posted in accordance with subsection (b); and 

5 (B) notice of the need to balance the 

6 weight carried by the vessel to avoid capsizing 

7 is posted in accordance with subsection (b). 

8 (b) ELEMENTS OF DISPLAY.—The maximum pas9 senger capacity, maximum carrying capacity in pounds, 

10 and notice of the need to balance the carried weight for 

11 a passenger vessel— 

12 (1) shall be permanently displayed in a legible 

13 matter; and 

14 (2) shall be located so as to be clearly visible to 

15 a passenger boarding the passenger vessel. 

16 (c) PENALTIES.—Not later than 180 days after the 

17 date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of 

18 the Coast Guard shall publish regulations that establish 

19 appropriate penalties for a manufacturer of a recreational 

20 vessel that does not comply with the requirements under 

21 this section. 

22 (d) APPLICATION.—The requirements under this sec23 tion shall apply to any recreational vessel manufactured 

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1 after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enact2 ment of this Act. 

Æ 

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