ROV In-Depth Examination Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1040
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Government studies and investigations
Motor vehicles
Outdoor recreation
Product safety and quality
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

ROV In-Depth Examination Act
 
of 2015

 
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 Act is completed. 
 
The CPSC shall contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to complete within two years after enactment of this Act 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, 
 
the number of ROV rollovers that would be prevented if the proposed requirements were adopted, 
 
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 
 
the effect on the utility of ROVs used by the Armed Forces if the proposed requirements were adopted. 

 
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.

action_date: 2016-09-22
text: 

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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 642.
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-357.
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-357.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate