I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4376 
To direct the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating to study and report to the Congress regarding recreational 
vessel operator training. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 27, 2023 
Mr. GARBARINO (for himself, Mr. D’ESPOSITO, and Mr. LALOTA) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating to study and report to the 
Congress regarding recreational vessel operator training. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Brianna Lieneck Boat-
ing Safety Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. RECREATIONAL VESSEL OPERATOR EDUCATION 
AND TRAINING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the depart-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:25 Aug 01, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4376.IH
H4376
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall study 
and report to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate regarding recreational vessel operator training. 
The study and report shall include a review of— 
(1) Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron 
training programs; 
(2) existing State boating education programs, 
including programs by the National Association of 
State Boating Law Administrators (in this section 
referred to as ‘‘NASBLA’’); and 
(3) other hands-on training programs available 
to recreational vessel operators. 
(b) INCLUDED SUBJECTS.—The study shall specifi-
cally examine— 
(1) course materials; 
(2) course content; 
(3) training methodology; 
(4) assessment methodology; and 
(5) relevancy of course content to risks for rec-
reational boaters. 
(c) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report under this 
section shall include— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:25 Aug 01, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4376.IH
H4376
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) a section regarding steps the Coast Guard 
and NASBLA have taken to encourage States to 
adopt mandatory recreational vessel operator train-
ing; 
(2) an evaluation of the ability of the States to 
harmonize their education programs and testing pro-
cedures; 
(3) an analysis of the extent States have pro-
vided reciprocity among the States for their respec-
tive mandatory and voluntary education require-
ments and programs; 
(4) a section examining the level of uniformity 
of education and training between the States that 
currently have mandatory education and training 
programs; 
(5) a section outlining the minimum standards 
for education of recreational vessel operators; 
(6) a section analyzing how a Federal training 
and testing program can be harmonized with State 
training and testing programs; 
(7) an analysis of course content and delivery 
methodology for relevancy to risks for recreational 
boaters; 
(8) a description of the current phase-in periods 
for mandatory boater education in State mandatory 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:25 Aug 01, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4376.IH
H4376
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS