ROV In-Depth Examination Act of 2015

To direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Academy of Sciences to study the vehicle handling requirements proposed by the Commission for recreational off-highway vehicles and to prohibit the adoption of any such requirements until the completion of the study, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ROV In-Depth Examination Act of 2015 2. Recreational off-highway vehicle standards study (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission (2) Recreational off-highway vehicle and ROV (A) In general The term recreational off-highway vehicle ROV (i) A steering wheel for steering control. (ii) Foot controls for throttle and service brake. (iii) Non-straddle seating. (iv) Maximum speed capability greater than 30 miles per hour. (v) Gross vehicle weight rating no greater than 3,750 pounds. (vi) Less than 80 inches in overall width, exclusive of accessories. (vii) Engine displacement equal to or less than 61 cubic inches for gasoline fueled engines. (viii) Identification by means of a 17-character personal or vehicle information number. (B) Exclusion Such term does not include a prototype of a motorized, off-highway, all-terrain vehicle or other motorized, off-highway, all-terrain vehicle that is intended exclusively for research and development purposes unless the vehicle is offered for sale. (b) No mandatory standards regarding performance or configuration of ROVs (1) In general The Consumer Product Safety Commission shall have no authority to establish any standards concerning the performance or configuration of recreational off-highway vehicles until after the completion of the study required by subsection (c). This prohibition includes a prohibition on the exercise of any authority pursuant to section 27(e) of the Consumer Product Safety Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2076(e) (2) Voluntary standards Nothing in this section shall be construed as suggesting that ROVs shall not be manufactured in compliance with applicable voluntary standards. (c) Study on proposed lateral stability and vehicle handling requirements (1) Agreement (A) In general The Commission shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to perform the services covered by this subsection. (B) Timing The Commission shall seek to enter into the agreement described in subparagraph (A) not later than the latest date by which the Commission considers reasonable for the National Academy of Sciences to begin performing the services covered by this subsection and complete them before the date described in paragraph (2)(D). (2) Study (A) In general Under an agreement between the Commission and the National Academy of Sciences under this subsection, the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct a study on matters concerning the lateral stability and vehicle handling requirements proposed by the Commission in a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register November 19, 2014 (79 Fed. Reg. 68964). (B) Elements The study carried under subparagraph (A) shall determine— (i) the technical validity of the lateral stability and vehicle handling requirements described in subparagraph (A), for purposes of reducing the risk of ROV rollovers in the off-road environment, including the repeatability and reproducibility of testing for compliance with such requirements; (ii) the number of ROV rollovers that would be prevented if the proposed requirements were adopted; (iii) whether there is a technical basis for the proposal to provide information on a point-of-sale hangtag about a vehicle’s rollover resistance on a progressive scale; and (iv) the effect on the utility of ROVs used by the Armed Forces if the proposed requirements were adopted. (C) Consultation In carrying out the study pursuant to subparagraph (A), the National Academy of Sciences shall consult with the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Secretary of Defense. (D) Deadline and report In carrying out the study pursuant to subparagraph (A), the National Academy of Sciences shall complete and transmit to the Commission a report containing the findings of the study not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Report to Congress Not later than 5 days after receiving the report described in paragraph (2)(D) from the National Academy of Sciences, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives such report, along with such comments as the Commission may have concerning the report. (4) Consideration The Commission shall consider the results of the study conducted under this subsection in any subsequent rulemaking regarding the performance or configuration of ROVs, or the provision of point-of-sale information regarding ROV performance. (5) Alternate contract organization (A) In general If the Commission is unable within the period prescribed in paragraph (1)(B) to enter into an agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) with the National Academy of Sciences on terms acceptable to the Commission, the Commission shall seek to enter into such an agreement with another appropriate organization that— (i) is not part of the Government; (ii) operates as a not-for-profit entity; and (iii) has expertise and objectivity comparable to that of the National Academy of Sciences. (B) Treatment If the Commission enters into an agreement with another organization as described in subparagraph (A), any reference in this section to the National Academy of Sciences shall be treated as a reference to the other organization.

Summary: ROV In-Depth Examination Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill denies the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) authority to establish recreational off-highway vehicle (ROV) performance or configuration standards, or to require ROV manufacturers to provide performance and technical data to prospective purchasers and to the first purchaser of an ROV for purposes other than resale, until the study required by this bill is completed. The CPSC shall contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to complete within two years after enactment of this bill a study of the lateral stability and vehicle handling requirements proposed by the CPSC in a notice of proposed rulemaking published on November 19, 2014. Such study shall determine: the technical validity of such proposed requirements for reducing the risk of ROV off-road rollovers, and whether there is a technical basis for the proposal to provide information on a point-of-sale hangtag about a vehicle's rollover resistance on a progressive scale. The CPSC must consider the results of the study in any subsequent rulemaking regarding the performance or configuration of ROVs or the provision of point-of-sale information regarding ROV performance. If the CPSC is unable to enter into an acceptable agreement for the study with NAS within a specified time frame, it shall seek to enter into such agreement with another appropriate organization that is not part of the government, that operates as a not-for-profit entity, and that has expertise and objectivity comparable to NAS.