Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021

To revise laws regarding liability in certain civil actions, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021 2. Exoneration and limitation of liability for small passengers vessels (a) Restructuring Chapter 305 (1) by inserting the following before section 30501: I General provisions ; (2) by inserting the following before section 30503: II Exoneration and limitation of liability generally ; and (3) by redesignating sections 30503 through 30512 as sections 30521 through 30530, respectively. (b) Definitions Section 30501 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 30501. Definitions In this chapter— (1) the term owner (2) the term covered small passenger vessel (A) means a small passenger vessel, as defined in section 2101 of this title, that— (i) is less than 100 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title; and (ii) is carrying— (I) for overnight domestic voyages, not more 49 passengers; and (II) for all other voyages, not more than 150 passengers; and (B) includes any wooden vessel constructed prior to March 11, 1996, that carries passengers on overnight domestic voyages. . (c) Applicability (1) In general Section 30502 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 30502. Application (a) In general Except as otherwise provided and subject to subsection (b)— (1) subchapter II (except section 30521) of this title shall apply to seagoing vessels and vessels used on lakes or rivers or in inland navigation, including canal boats, barges, and lighters that are not covered small passenger vessels; and (2) subchapter III of this title shall apply to seagoing vessels, and vessels used on lakes or rivers or in inland navigation, including canal boats, barges, and lighters, that are covered small passenger vessels. (b) Declaration of nature and value of goods Section 30521 of this title shall not apply to vessels described in subsection (a) of this section. . (d) Rules for small passenger vessels Chapter 305 III Exoneration and limitation of liability for covered small passenger vessels 30541. Exoneration and limitation of liability provisions (a) In general By not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021 (1) provide just compensation in any claim for which the owner or operator of a covered small passenger vessel is found liable; and (2) comply with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. (b) Requirements (1) Privity or knowledge In a claim for personal injury or death to which this subchapter applies, the privity or knowledge of the master or the owner's superintendent or managing agent, at or before the beginning of each voyage, is imputed to the owner. (2) Apportionment of losses The requirements of section 30525 of this title shall apply to a covered small passenger vessel in the same manner as such section applies to a vessel described in section 30502(a)(1). (3) Timing considerations The requirements of subsections (b) through (d) of section 30526 of this title shall apply to a covered small passenger vessel in the same manner as the requirements apply to a vessel subject to such section. (c) Applicability The rules promulgated under subsection (a) shall take effect as if promulgated on the effective date of the Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021 . (e) Tables of subchapters and tables of sections The table of sections for chapter 305 (1) by inserting before section 30501 the following: SUBCHAPTER I—General provisions ; (2) by inserting after section 30502 the following: SUBCHAPTER II—Exoneration and limitation of liability ; (3) by redesignating the items relating to sections 30503 through 30512 as items relating to sections 30521 through 30530, respectively; and (4) by adding at the end the following: SUBCHAPTER III—Exoneration and limitation of liability for covered small passenger vessels Sec. 30541. Exoneration and limitation of liability provisions. . (f) Conforming amendments Title 46, United States Code, is further amended— (1) in section 14305(a)(5), by striking section 30506 section 30524 (2) in section 30523(a), as redesignated by subsection (a) of this section, by striking section 30506 section 30524 (3) in section 30524(b), as redesignated by subsection (a) of this section, by striking section 30505 section 30523 (4) in section 30525— (A) by striking section 30505 section 30523 (B) by striking section 30506 section 30524 (C) by striking section 30506(b) section 30524(b) 3. Effective date; severability (a) Effective date This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect as if enacted into law on September 2, 2019. (b) Severability If any provision of this Act or an amendment made by this Act, or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of this Act and the amendments made by this Act to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.

Summary: Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021 This bill revises maritime law regarding the liability of owners of certain small passenger vessels for violations of safety rules resulting in accidents on such vessels. Under current law, owners may avoid liability in some cases depending on the value of their vessels after accidents. The bill requires the Coast Guard to promulgate rules that require owners or operators of small passenger vessels to provide just compensation in any claim for which they are found liable. The bill makes the revised liability provisions retroactive to September 2, 2019, the date of what is known as the Conception boat fire in which 34 lives were lost.