Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-1031
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Arkansas
Atmospheric science and weather
Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Emergency communications systems
Fires
Floods and storm protection
Government studies and investigations
Marine and inland water transportation
Missouri
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to implement regulations related to the safety of amphibious passenger vessels, including during severe weather emergencies.
 
Operators of amphibious passenger vessels are required to provide reserve buoyancy for such vessels through passive means, including watertight compartmentalization, built-in flotation, or other means, to ensure that such vessels remain afloat and upright in the event of flooding, including when carrying a full complement of passengers and crew.
 
The bill sets forth requirements for vessels that are not in compliance with the regulations.

action_date: 2020-12-10
text: 

Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act of 2020

 
This bill sets forth requirements related to the safety of amphibious passenger vessels.
 
The U.S. Coast Guard must implement regulations related to the safety of amphibious passenger vessels, including during severe weather emergencies.
 
The Coast Guard may require operators of amphibious passenger vessels to provide reserve buoyancy for such vessels through passive means, including watertight compartmentalization, built-in flotation, or other means, to ensure that such vessels remain afloat and upright in the event of flooding, including when carrying a full complement of passengers and crew.
 
Additionally, the Coast Guard must implement interim safety policies or other measures to require operators of amphibious passenger vessels operating in U.S. waters comply with certain requirements, including to remove the canopies of such vessels for waterborne operations, or to install in such vessels canopies that do not restrict either horizontal or vertical escape by passengers in the event of flooding or sinking.
 
The bill also sets forth requirements for vessels that are not in compliance with the regulations and interim safety policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-14
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-12-14
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-12-11
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-12-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7394-7395)
action_date: 2020-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7394-7395)
action_date: 2020-12-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7394-7395)
action_date: 2020-12-10
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-12-10
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate