or vessel to engage in fishing that is issued under State 
or Federal law.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 31309 the following: 
‘‘31310. Treatment of fishing permits.’’. 
SEC. 302. SURVIVAL CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO EQUIP.—The Secretary shall 
require that a passenger vessel be equipped with survival 
craft that ensures that no part of an individual is im-
mersed in water, if— 
‘‘(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major 
conversion after January 1, 2016; and 
‘‘(2) operates in cold waters as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) HIGHER STANDARD
OF SAFETY.—The Sec-
retary may revise part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code 
of Federal Regulations, as in effect before January 1, 
2016, if such revision provides a higher standard of safety 
than is provided by the regulations in effect on or before 
the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2015. 
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‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE AND NOVEL DESIGNS.—The Sec-
retary may, in lieu of the requirements set out in part 
117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, 
as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2015, allow a passenger vessel 
to be equipped with a life saving appliance or arrangement 
of an innovative or novel design that— 
‘‘(1) ensures no part of an individual is im-
mersed in water; and 
‘‘(2) provides an equal or higher standard of 
safety than is provided by such requirements as in 
effect before such date of the enactment. 
‘‘(d) BUILT DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘built’ has the meaning that term has under section 
4503(e).’’. 
(b) REVIEW; REVISION OF REGULATIONS.— 
(1) REVIEW.—Not later than December 31, 
2015, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a review of— 
(A) the number of casualties for individ-
uals with disabilities, children, and the elderly 
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as a result of immersion in water, reported to 
the Coast Guard over the preceding 30-year pe-
riod, by vessel type and area of operation; 
(B) the risks to individuals with disabil-
ities, children, and the elderly as a result of im-
mersion in water, by passenger vessel type and 
area of operation; 
(C) the effect that carriage of survival 
craft that ensure that no part of an individual 
is immersed in water has on— 
(i) passenger vessel safety, including 
stability and safe navigation; 
(ii) improving the survivability of indi-
viduals, including individuals with disabil-
ities, children, and the elderly; and 
(iii) the costs, the incremental cost 
difference to vessel operators, and the cost 
effectiveness of requiring the carriage of 
such survival craft to address the risks to 
individuals with disabilities, children, and 
the elderly; 
(D) the efficacy of alternative safety sys-
tems, devices, or measures in improving surviv-
ability of individuals with disabilities, children, 
and the elderly; and 
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(E) the number of small businesses and 
nonprofit vessel operators that would be af-
fected by requiring the carriage of such survival 
craft on passenger vessels to address the risks 
to individuals with disabilities, children, and the 
elderly. 
(2) REVISION.—Based on the review conducted 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may revise regu-
lations concerning the carriage of survival craft pur-
suant to section 3104(c) of title 46, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 303. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 55305(d) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) Each department or agency that has re-
sponsibility for a program under this section shall 
administer that program consistent with this section 
and any regulations and guidance issued by the Sec-
retary of Transportation concerning this section.’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3), and by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
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‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary, after consulting with 
the department, agency, organization, or person in-
volved, shall have exclusive authority for determining 
the applicability of this section to a program of a 
Federal department or agency, after consulting with 
the department, agency, organization, or person in-
volved. 
‘‘(B) The head of a Federal department or 
agency shall request the Secretary to determine the 
applicability of this section to a program of such de-
partment or agency if the department or agency is 
uncertain of such applicability. Not later than 30 
days after receiving such a request, the Secretary 
shall make such determination. 
‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) shall not be construed 
to limit the authority of the Secretary to make a de-
termination regarding the applicability of this sec-
tion to a program administered by a Federal depart-
ment or agency. 
‘‘(D) A determination made by the Secretary 
under this paragraph regarding a program shall re-
main in effect until the Secretary determines that 
this section no longer applies to such program.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by 
amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: 
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‘‘(A) shall conduct an annual review of the 
administration of programs subject to the re-
quirements of this section to determine compli-
ance with the requirements of this section;’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) On the date on which the President sub-
mits to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 
of title 31, the Secretary shall make available on the 
Internet website of the Department of Transpor-
tation a report that— 
‘‘(A) lists the programs that were subject 
to determinations made by the Secretary under 
paragraph (2) in the preceding year; and 
‘‘(B) describes the results of the most re-
cent annual review required by paragraph 
(3)(A), including identification of the depart-
ments and agencies that transported cargo in 
violation of this section and any action the Sec-
retary took under paragraph (3) with respect to 
each violation.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR FIRST REVIEW.—The Secretary 
of Transportation shall complete the first review required 
under the amendment made by subsection (a)(1)(C) by 
not later than December 31, 2015. 
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SEC. 304. MODEL YEARS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4302 of title 46, United 
States Code is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d)(1) If in prescribing regulations under this sec-
tion the Secretary establishes a model year for recreational 
vessels and associated equipment, such model year shall, 
except as provided in paragraph (2)— 
‘‘(A) begin on June 1 of a year and end on July 
31 of the following year; and 
‘‘(B) be designated by the year in which it ends. 
‘‘(2) Upon the request of a recreational vessel manu-
facturer to which this chapter applies, the Secretary may 
alter a model year for a model of recreational vessel of 
the manufacturer and associated equipment, by no more 
than 6 months from the model year described in para-
graph (1).’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—This section shall only apply with 
respect to recreational vessels and associated equipment 
constructed or manufactured, respectively, on or after 
June 1, 2015. 
(c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
publish guidance to implement section 4302(d)(2) of title 
46, United States Code. 
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SEC. 305. MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL EXPIRATION 
HARMONIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(c) and not later than 1 year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall establish a process to 
harmonize the expiration dates of merchant mariner cre-
dentials, mariner medical certificates, and radar observer 
endorsements for individuals applying to the Secretary for 
a new merchant mariner credential or for renewal of an 
existing merchant mariner credential. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the process established under subsection (a)— 
(1) does not require an individual to renew a 
merchant mariner credential earlier than the date on 
which the individual’s current credential expires; and 
(2) results in harmonization of expiration dates 
for merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical 
certificates, and radar observer endorsements for all 
individuals by not later than 6 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) EXCEPTION.—The process established under sub-
section (a) does not apply to individuals— 
(1) holding a merchant mariner credential 
with— 
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(A) an active Standards of Training, Cer-
tification, and Watchkeeping endorsement; or 
(B) Federal first-class pilot endorsement; 
or 
(2) who have been issued a time-restricted med-
ical certificate. 
SEC. 306. MARINE EVENT SAFETY ZONES. 
Section 6 of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 
1972 (33 U.S.C. 1225) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(c) MARINE EVENT SAFETY ZONES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary shall recover all costs the 
Coast Guard incurs to enforce a safety zone under 
this section if such safety zone is established for a 
marine event conducted under a permit or other au-
thorization by the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may not re-
cover costs under paragraph (1) from a State or 
local government. 
‘‘(3) TREATMENT
OF
RECOVERED
COSTS.— 
Costs recovered by the Secretary under this sub-
section shall be credited to the appropriation for op-
erating expenses of the Coast Guard. 
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‘‘(4) MARINE EVENT DEFINED.—In this section 
the term ‘marine event’ means a planned activity of 
limited duration that by its nature, circumstances, 
or location, will introduce extra or unusual hazards 
to the safety of life on the navigable waters of the 
United States.’’. 
SEC. 307. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) TITLE 46.—Title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in section 103, by striking ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 
151).’’ and inserting ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151(b)).’’; 
(2) in section 2118— 
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subtitle,’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘title’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subtitle’’; 
(3) in the analysis for chapter 35— 
(A) by adding a period at the end of the 
item relating to section 3507; and 
(B) by adding a period at the end of the 
item relating to section 3508; 
(4) in section 3715(a)(2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
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(5) in section 8103(b)(1)(A)(iii), by striking 
‘‘Academy.’’ and inserting ‘‘Academy; and’’; and 
(6) in section 11113(c)(1)(A)(i), by striking 
‘‘under this Act’’; 
(b) GENERAL BRIDGE STATUTES.— 
(1) ACT OF MARCH 3, 1899.—The Act of March 
3, 1899, popularly known as the Rivers and Harbors 
Appropriations Act of 1899, is amended— 
(A) in section 9 (33 U.S.C. 401), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 
and 
(B) in section 18 (33 U.S.C. 502), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’. 
(2) ACT OF MARCH 23, 1906.—The Act of March 
23, 1906, popularly known as the Bridge Act of 
1906, is amended— 
(A) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 491), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating’’; 
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(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 494), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’; and 
(C) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 495), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 
(3) ACT OF AUGUST 18, 1894.—Section 5 of the 
Act entitled ‘‘An Act making appropriations for the 
construction, repair, and preservation of certain pub-
lic works on rivers and harbors, and for other pur-
poses’’, approved August 18, 1894 (33 U.S.C. 499) 
is amended by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transpor-
tation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating’’. 
(4) ACT OF JUNE 21, 1940.—The Act of June 
21, 1940, popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs 
Act, is amended— 
(A) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 511), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating’’; 
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