To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish and implement a fatigue management plan, and for other purposes.

To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish and implement a fatigue management plan, and for other purposes. 1. Fatigue management plan (a) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall require all railroad carriers to establish and implement a fatigue management plan that identifies and evaluates any fatigue-related railroad safety hazards on its system and determine the degree of risk associated with each hazard. (b) Contents The plan required under subsection (a) shall be completed in accordance with the requirements in section 20156(f) of title 49, United States Code. (c) Submission The plan required under subsection (a) shall be submitted to the Secretary for approval. (d) Consensus In preparing the plan required under subsection (a), each railroad shall use good faith and best efforts in accordance with section 20156(g) of such title to reach an agreement with affected employees. 2. Hours of service (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that railroad carriers provide railroad employees with predictable and defined work and rest schedules. Predictable work schedules for railroad employees means either a defined start time or a minimum of 10 hours prior notification before being required to report to duty. (b) Supplemental regulation Any requirement under subsection (a) shall supplement, and not supplant, the requirements of section 21103 of title 49, United States Code. 3. Enforcement of violations (a) Enforcement by the Secretary of Transportation Section 20111 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1) by inserting , except that a compromise may not reduce the penalty below the applicable minimum penalty set forth in sections 21301 and 21302 (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) Mandatory enforcement For any violation for which a penalty is prescribed under this chapter, the Secretary shall impose the applicable penalty for such violation. The Secretary shall impose such penalty not later than 30 days after the violation has occurred without regard to any correction of such violation on the part of the party liable for such violation. . (b) Certain Federal and State regulations deemed statutory authority Section 4A of the Act of April 22, 1908 ( 45 U.S.C. 54a a State or a State agency 4. Installation of audio and image recording devices Section 20168 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (2) by striking and (B) by adding at the end the following: (4) have a light indicator that illuminates while recording device is in use; and (5) record when locomotive is moving and cease recording after the locomotive stops. ; (2) in subsection (d)— (A) by inserting only use recordings (B) in paragraph (1) by striking and the railroad carrier’s operating rules and procedures, including a system-wide program for such verification after a reportable accident or incident occurs (C) by striking paragraph (4); (3) in subsection (e)(2) by inserting and that complies with subsection (i) (4) in subsection (i) by striking retaliate against an employee retaliate against an employee, including through the use of discipline, or be used in an enforcement proceeding against an employee conducted by the Federal Railroad Administration (5) by adding at the end the following: (k) Voluntary Implementation (1) In General Each rail carrier operating freight rail service may implement any inward- or outward-facing image recording devices approved under subsection (c). (2) Authorized Uses Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each rail carrier operating freight rail service may use recordings from an inward- or outward-facing image recording device approved under subsection (c) only for the purposes described in subsection (d) and in compliance with subsections (f) through (j). .

Summary: This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to require all railroad carriers to establish and implement a fatigue management plan that identifies and evaluates any fatigue-related railroad safety hazards on its system and determine the degree of risk associated with each hazard. DOT shall ensure that railroad carriers provide their employees with predictable work and rest schedules that have either a defined start time or a minimum of 10 hours prior notification before being required to report to duty. A compromise of a civil penalty for violations of railroad safety regulations or orders may not reduce the minimum federal penalties set for such violations. DOT shall impose a penalty for a violation at least 30 days after its occurrence without regard to any correction of the violation by the liable party. The bill revises standards for the installation of inward- and outward-facing imaging recording devices in all controlling locomotive cabs and cab car operating compartments of intercity rail passenger and commuter rail passenger trains. An in-cab audio or image recording obtained by a railroad carrier may not be used to discipline or be used in an Federal Railroad Administration enforcement proceeding against a railroad employee. Each freight rail service carrier may voluntarily install DOT-approved inward- or outward-facing image recording devices in their trains.